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.