ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Brandeis University rookie Melissa Nolan (Weston, Conn./Loomis Chaffee) tossed a six-inning no-hitter today, the Judges' first since April of 2009 and just the fourth in the past seven seasons, as the Judges defeated Case Western Reserve University, 9-0, on the fourth day of the University Athletic Association tournament.
Nolan improved to 3-1 in her fourth start of the season by striking out four Case batters. She allowed three base-runners on walks and one other on an error, facing three batters over the minimum thanks to a double play in the second inning. Nolan's no-no is the first since Emily Vaillette '10 tossed one against Framingham State on April 2, 2009.
Offensively, the Judges scored five runs in the fourth inning, one in the fifth and three more in the sixth to end the game an inning early. Every Brandeis hitter but one had a base hit in the contest, including Nolan, who helped her own cause at the plate, with a pair of singles, a walk and a run scored.
The big hitter on the day was junior RF Samantha Gajewski (Elk Ridge, Md./Long Reach), who went 3-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and a home run, the team's first of the season. Gajewski went deep to center field for the team's lone fifth-inning run. Junior 2B Brittany Grimm (Perkiomenville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a run scored.
With the win, the Judges improve to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the UAA. They wrap up the Association tournament on Monday with games against Washington (Mo.) and 10th-ranked Emory. Case falls to 2-11, 0-7 UAA.