WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University senior pitcher
Kaitlin Streilein (Point Pleasant, N.J.) earned her 19th win of the
season and scored both of her team's runs as the top-seeded Judges
eliminated visiting eighth-seed Emerson College, 2-1, in the first
round of the ECAC Division III New England Softball Tournament. The
Judges will now host the double-elimination portion of the
tournament on Saturday and Sunday. They take on Western New England
College at 10:00 a.m. on May 10.
Brandeis (35-9-1) extended its winningest season ever by coming
from behind. After Streilein faced the minimum through three
innings, Emerson (23-17) got her in trouble in the fourth. The
Lions loaded the bases with no out on an error and singles by
senior CF Mallory Moretti (Westerly, R.I.) and senior 3B Lindsay
DeStefano (Gloucester, R.I.). With the infield in, the Judges cut
down the first run at the plate, but sophomore RF Bridget Farago
(Oneonta, N.Y.) singled to plate Moretti and give the visitors the
lead. Streilein escaped further damage as the Judges got a 5-2-3
double play to end the inning.
Streilein got the run back in the bottom of the fourth on her own
by stroking her eighth home run of the season to lead off the
frame. Brandeis put two runners on in the fifth to no avail, but
they scored the game-winner in the next frame.
In the sixth, Streilein singled to lead off the inning. After
Emerson junior hurler Angela Jorgenson (Dayton, Iowa) got the first
out on a pop-up, Judge sophomore catcher Erin Ross (Manalapan,
N.J.) stroked 12th double of the season to centerfield to provide
the winning run. The Lions got their only hit of the lat innings on
a Farago single in the seventh, but no other balls left the
infield, and Streilein picked up her fifth strikeout of the game to
end the contest.
Streilein improved to 19-3 on the season with her 15th complete
game. She struck out five and walked none, allowing just five hits,
one after the fourth inning. At the plate, Streilein was 2-3 with
two runs scored, an RBI and a home run. Ross's double was the only
other extra-base hit of the contest.
For Emerson, Jorgenson allowed just six hits and two runs in six
innings of work. She struck out two and walked one, falling to 12-5
on the season. Farago was the only multiple hitter for the Lions,
going 2-3 with an RBI.