WELLESLEY, Mass. (taken from a Wellesley press release) -- The Brandeis University softball team was unable to capitalize on its momentum from a win in their final UAA game in Florida in their New England opener as the Judges dropped game one of a double-header to Wellesley College, 4-2. The second game was halted because of darkness and ended in a 3-3 tie.

In the opener, Brandeis (5-6-1) struck first with a run in the bottom of the third inning when pitcher Kate Streilein knocked in Erin Thorn, who led off the inning with a single.

Wellesley (1-0-1) took the lead in the top of the fourth, picking up two runs off of a single from first-year Brittany Bakacs. In the fifth inning, the Blue stretched the lead to 4-1 after back-to-back RBI doubles from Amanda Tai and Kara Wong.

Brandeis picked up a run in the bottom of the seventh off of an RBI single from Chelsea Korp and later put two on base, but Wellesley starter Barbarajean Grundlock forced a pop-up to end the threat.

Grundlock picked up the win throwing seven strong innings allowing only two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out five. For Brandeis, Streilein pitched all seven innings allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits. She struck out nine and only allowed one walk in the loss.

In game two, Wellesley's Tai led off the third inning with a single and later scored on a single from Bakacs that put the Blue on top 1-0. In the top of the third, Bakacs once again knocked in Tai (who picked up her second hit of the game) to push the Wellesley lead to 2-0.

Brandeis answered back with a three-run fifth inning that put them ahead 3-2. The Judges' Korp knocked in the first run of the inning on a double to left-center while Danielle Lavellee doubled to bring in two more runs.

In the top of the sixth inning, Grundlock picked up a one-out single to
start the rally for Wellesley. Samantha Littlejohn sacrificed her to second where she scored off of another Bakacs hit. The RBI was the third of the game and the fifth of the afternoon for Bakacs. The game was called after the bottom of the sixth due to darkness.

Jenna Harvey pitched five innings for the Blue allowing three runs and three hits while striking out nine. Kristie Gola was fantastic in relief, striking out two of the three batters she faced.

For the Judges' Emily Vaillette got the start and pitched six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out five.