BOSTON, Mass (Courtest Suffolk sports information) -- The Brandeis University Softball team (13-12 overall) swept a non-conference doubleheader from the Suffolk University Rams (4-12 overall) on Wednesday afternoon at Popoulo Field in Boston.
The Judges snuck out of game one with a 2-1 win scoring twice with two outs in the top of the seventh.
Freshman Melissa Nolan (Windsor, Conn.) tied the game with a two-out triple to drive home pinch-runner sophomore Casey Ducinski (Duxbury, Mass.). Nolan came around to score on the same play on an overthrow to give the Judges their 12th win of 2011.
Sophomore Mandi Thornton (Methuen, Mass.) got Suffolk on the board in the fifth tripling to deep centerfield and she drove home senior Clara Conklin (Haverhill, N.H.) who singled.
The Rams had a chance to tie in the bottom half of the seventh inning as freshman Samantha McGilvray (Brighton, Mass.) drew a walk to lead things off. However pinch-runner freshman Sydni Arnett (King of Prussia, Pa.) was thrown out at second trying to steal. Junior Karina Bolster (Carlisle, Pa.) and Conklin would follow with singles as the Rams put the tying run back in scoring position, but ended the game with a flyout and strikeout.
Nolan delivered the big hit, but also gave the Judges a much needed performance on the mound as she fanned 12 Rams' hitters in seven innings of work, only allowing the one run on five hits to push her record to 7-6.
McGilvray was the tough luck loser on the hill for Suffolk as she went the distance only allowing one earned run on three hits, while striking out three hitters.
Game two was a lot different as the Judges controlled it from early on scoring once in the first and third innings, before tacking on seven runs to cruise to a 13-1 victory.
The Judges pounded out 19 hits in game two as seven of the nine players in their lineup had multiple hits.
Junior Lauren Porcaro (Shrewbury, Mass.) tripled and homered in the game, while junior Samantha Gajewski (Elkridge, Md.) was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI.
Brandeis will be back in action on Friday afternoon as they take on Babson College in a non-conference double header.
Suffolk will take on Wheelock College on Thursday in a non-conference double header.