ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Senior Kaitlin Streilein (Point Pleasant, N.J.) homered for the second time this season and classmate Natalie Volpe (Southington, Conn.) improved to 2-0 on the mound as the Brandeis University softball team defeated Case Western Reserve University, 6-3, in a University Athletic Association (UAA) contest in Altamonte Springs, Fla., today.

Brandeis (4-3, 2-3 UAA) snapped a three-game losing streak behind the senior tandem. Volpe allowed 10 hits, but only had one inning with more than two baserunners. She walked one and struck out seven, allowing three earned runs. Streilein highlighted a balanced offense that saw eight of nine batters get hits. She was the squad's only multiple hitter, going 2-3 with two RBI and a two-run home run.

Brandeis rookie 2B Melissa Cagar (Ridgewood, N.J.) was stranded on third base in two of the first three innings before the Judges broke through in the fourth inning. Streilein led off with a walk, followed by a single by rookie 3B Danielle Lavallee (Sutton, Mass.). Volpe followed by helping her own cause, singling to first base to get the Judges on the board. Sophomore catcher Erin Ross (Manalapan, N.J.) drove home Lavallee on an error and stole second, followed by rookie CF Carly Schmand (Bethesda, Md.) plating Volpe for the third run. Ross came home for what proved to be the winning run on a wild pitch.

Streilein's fifth-inning blast to center field provided needed insurance, as Case scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior 2B Angel Rice (Brunswick, Ohio) broke up Volpe's shutout bid with an RBI single to right field, while Spartan rookie basketball standout Beth Andrasik (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) made the transition to the diamond with a two-run single to left. Volpe stranded the two on first and second to squash the Case threat.