:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49550869/softballhr.0.0.jpg)
In one of the most pleasant surprise stories of the 2015-16 season, the Boston College softball team scorched their way through the final weeks of the season, winning 2-of-3 this weekend against Pitt to lock up a 30-win season and the #4 seed in the ACC tournament. It's BC softball's best ever finish in ACC play.
The Eagles are now in a position where a win in their ACC quarterfinal - Thursday at 1:30 vs. #5 UNC - may well be enough to punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament. The Eagles have just three all-time appearances in the NCAA softball tournament, with the last coming back in 2003 - so this could be a monumental achievement if BC can finish it off.
Last week's bracket projection from the In The Circle blog, BC was one of the First Four Out, and four ACC teams made it - with UNC being the 4th.
BC helped their case by fighting through the rain for two wins in a doubleheader on Saturday vs. Pitt.
In game 1, the Panthers scored two runs in the top of the 6th to take a 2-1 lead before the game was stopped by a lengthy rain delay. BC emerged from the rain delay with hot bats, scoring 4 in the bottom of the 6th to seal the victory. Sophomore Annie Murphy hit a 2-run homer that proved to be the game winning hit.
Game 2 proved to be an easier cruise for BC, scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the 3rd in route to a 7-3 win. Allyson Frei notched her 16th win of the season in the victory.
Pitt bounced back with an 8-2 win on Sunday to prevent a BC sweep, rocking BC's ace Jessica Dreswick to drop her record to 14-7. The finale was played at 10 AM on Sunday to beat out potential weather delays.
BC ends the regular season 30-22, and 12-9 in ACC play. It's a full 6-game improvement from last year's 6-15 mark in the ACC. In 2014, they went 12-14 in the ACC (the conference schedule was shortened after the most recent round of ACC expansion).