WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University softball team scored two runs in the bottom of the first and rookie pitcher Emily Vaillette (Milford, N.H.) made them stand up as the Judges defeated Salem State College, 2-1, on Marcus Field today.

Brandeis (18-16) got just enough scoring in the first at-bat. Rookie SS Chelsea Korp (Worcester, Mass.) led off with a single and senior CF Marissa Rubin (Teaneck, N.J.) followed by reaching on an error. After Salem State junior pitcher Jessica Perkins (Saugus, Mass.) got the first out of the inning, Brandeis junior 1B Kaitlin Streilein (Point Pleasant, N.J.) followed with her team-leading 10th double of the season, plating both runners. It was her 28th and 29th RBI of the season, also tops on the Judges.

Salem State (13-21) got one run back in the third inning. With one away, rookie SS Tasha Thorpe (Beverly, Mass.) and senior 2B Ali Carnivale (Salem, Mass.) hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Rookie LF Jess Baird (Worcester, Mass.), a high-school teammate of Korp's at Holy Name Central Catholic in Worcester, hit a fielder's choice to second base the cut the lead in half.

Vaillette took over from there for the Judges, retiring 13 of the last 16 SSC batters. Overall for the game, she scattered four hits and struck out six. Vaillette gave up one earned run and improved to 4-4 on the season, giving the Judges four pitchers with at least four wins on the campaign.

Korp and Streilein were the only multiple hitters on the day, each going 2-3. Streilein and Volpe both had doubles for the game's only extra-base hits. Brandeis has won three in a row and improved to 14-4 at home this season.

Carnivale was the only multiple hitter for Salem State, going 2-3 on the afternoon. Perkins allowed just five hits and two runs (one earned) in six innings of work to fall to 2-8 on the season.

Brandeis is off until Saturday when they head to Hartford to take on Trinity College in a noon-time doubleheader, while Salem State has a MASCAC doubleheader at home against Westfield State College at the same date and time.