Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Duke University
Ranked Opponent Comes to Harrington in ACC Softball Battle
April 16, 2026 | Softball
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - The Boston College softball team (12-29, 3-12 ACC) host ranked ACC foes No.14 Duke (32-12, 15-3 ACC) for a three-game weekend series that starts at 4 p.m. on Friday at Harrington Athletics Village and on ACCNX. Due to weather conditions on Sunday the Eagles and Blue Devils will play a double header on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.
This weekend's home slate will also feature special promotions with the annual ALS awareness game on Friday night in honor of Pete Frates and 617 day at the ballpark on Saturday.
Last Time Out
Boston College hosted Syracuse for an ACC home series this past weekend, finishing 1–2 overall. The Eagles closed things out in dramatic fashion, walking off the final game to snap a six-game losing streak. Saturday marked BC's first extra-inning game of the season, as they battled the Orange through nine innings. In that matchup, the Eagles powered up with four solo home runs from Nicole Riddell, Adriana Martinez, Janis Espinoza, and Emma Knight.
Espinoza led the way offensively with an outstanding weekend, going 5-for-8 (.625) with a double, a home run, and three RBI. Both Abby Ptak and Knight also etched their names into BC's top 10 single-season record book with their performances. In the circle, Halie Pappion made her return, tossing two innings in her first appearance since February.
PTAK ATTACK!
Ptak is putting together a standout sophomore campaign, leading Boston College in batting average (.403), slugging percentage (.627), doubles (13), and hits (54).
Her 13 doubles rank seventh in BC single-season history and are tied for 10th in the ACC this season. Ptak has also recorded 17 multi-hit games. Behind the dish she has thrown out 11 runners, the most in the ACC.
Ptak is on pace to crack Boston College's single-season top 10 in batting average, needing to maintain a mark above .366 over the remaining games. She's also just four hits away from adding another top-10 single-season record to her name.
Good Knight
Knight is off to a strong start to her career, leading the team with 36 RBI while totaling 41 hits. She's recorded 12 multi-RBI games and is currently riding a five-game hitting streak, continuing to be consistent in the lineup.
Knight launched her 11th home run of the season against Syracuse, tying for eighth all-time in a single season by an Eagle. She is also now just three RBI shy of breaking into Boston College's single-season top 10.
Following the UNC series, she etched her name into the record book as just the sixth Eagle to hit two home runs in a single game. In that same performance, she drove in seven RBI, tying Hall of Famer Tatiana Cortez for the most in a single game, a mark last reached in 2017.
Sneaky Sammy
Sammy Horn has been a steady presence at the top of the lineup, primarily batting leadoff while posting a .304 average over 135 at-bats. She's been one of the toughest outs on the roster, striking out just 13 times, the lowest total among BC's starters.
Horn has also played a key role in small ball, recording six of the team's 21 sacrifice hits this season. At the plate, she's totaled 41 hits, tied for the second-most on the team.
AD! AD!
Martinez is right behind Ptak with a .330 batting average, while recording seven home runs this season, highlighted by a grand slam in a win over Pitt. Martinez has produced in big moments, tallying seven multi-RBI games on the year.
Teamwork Dreamwork
The Eagles have broken into the program's single-season record book in multiple categories this year. As a team, they currently rank second in batting average (.281), third in both slugging percentage (.426) and on-base percentage (.358), and ninth in home runs with 34 after the Syracuse series.
Scouting Duke
The Eagles are 0-11Â against the Blue Devils who are in their ninth year as a program. No. 14 Duke sits atop the ACC with a 32-12 overall record and a 15-3 mark in conference play. The Blue Devils are coming off an impressive midweek win over No. 7 Tennessee, defeating the Volunteers 6-3 for their second top-10 victory and 11th ranked win of the season.
Tyrina Jones had her 18th home run of the season against Tennessee and extended her home run streak to four consecutive games. Aminah Vega has been dominant at the plate, ranking fifth in the ACC with a .469 batting average. She leads the conference with 67 hits, including an ACC-best 18 doubles and five triples.
In the circle, Cassidy Curd has been a steady presence for Duke, tossing 115.2 innings while holding opponents to a .231 batting average.
UP NEXT
The Eagles travel for their final road series at Notre Dame next weekend. BC will play three games in South Bend that weekend starting at 6 p.m. on Friday night.
