WALTHAM, Mass. (courtesy Framingham State sports information) – The Brandeis University softball team managed a split with visiting Framingham State University today on Marcus Field. In a twinbill originally scheduled for Framingham, the Judges took the opener, 9-2,but suffered a 6-2 loss in the nightcap. Brandeis improves to 17-16, while FSU falls to 5-15 overall.
In game one, Brandeis jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as they capitalized on a pair of Rams errors to score three unearned runs. Senior Carly Schmand (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) reached on an error with one out and scored on junior Brittany Grimm's two-run homer to left. Classmate Courtney Kelley (Leicester, Mass./notre Dame Acad.) followed with a base hit and rookie Melissa Nolan (Windsor, Conn./Loomis Chaffee) walked to give the Judges runners on first and second. After a groundout, Danielle Lavallee (Sutton, Mass./Notre DAme Acad.) reached on a Framingham error that allowed Kelley and Nolan to score. Framingham State starting pitcher Alysia Morrissette (Ware, Mass.) recorded a strikeout to end the inning and allow no further damage.
The Judges extended their lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the second as two runs scored on another Framingham fielding miscue. Junior Marianne Specker (So. Windsor, Conn./PTA) and Grimm each singled and Kelley followed with a single that was misplayed by the Rams outfield allowing Kelley to advance to second and Specker and Grimm to score.
The Rams got two back in the top of third on as they loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a base hit from Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.). Senior Andrea DiTerlizzi (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drove in the Rams first run with a single to right and Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.) plated a run on an RBI groundout.
The Rams loaded the bases in the top of fifth inning with no outs, but Brandeis starting pitcher Caroline Miller (Harriton, Pa./)worked out of the jam inducing a pair of groundouts and picking up a strikeout to keep the Rams off the board in the frame.
The Judges added a pair of runs in the third on an RBI double by Schmand and a single run in the sixth to reach the final margin of 9-2. Miller picked up the victory tossing five innings allowing two runs, both earned, on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Melissa Nolan came on in the sixth and tossed two innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts.
Grimm picked up three hits and two RBI in game one for the Judges, while Schmand and Kelley, who picked up a pair of hits, each drove in two runs.
Morrissette picked up the loss going the distance allowing nine runs, four earned, on 13 hits with five strikeouts. Ezold and DiTerlizzi each picked up a pair of hits in game one for the Rams.
In game two, Faria started on the mound and was outstanding in the circle as she picked up her fourth win of the season. Faria allowed two unearned runs in the game on just four hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Ezold walked with one out, advanced on a DiTerlizzi single, and scored from third on a wild pitch. Junior Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, Mass.) singled home DiTerlizzi for the Rams other run in the first.
Brandeis cut the Rams lead in half with an unearned run in the bottom of the third, but the Rams extended the lead back to two (3-1) in the top of the fourth when Faria stole home on the back end of double steal.
Framingham State tacked on three more in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 6-1. DiTerlizzi lined an RBI single to through the left side and Faria reached on an error that allowed the Rams second run of the inning to score. DiTerlizzi then stole home to put the Rams up by five.
That was all Faria would need as she held the Judges scoreless in sixth and allowed an unearned run in the seventh as Lavallee scored on a wild pitch to record the victory.
Casey Ducinski (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) picked up the loss for the Judges allowing six runs, three earned, on six hits. Ducinski struckout ten Rams and only issued two walks.
DiTerlizzi picked up a pair of hits in game two with an RBI and two runs scored, while Ezold picked up a hit and scored a pair of runs.
The Rams return to action on Saturday as they travel to Westfield State for a pair of MASCAC games beginning at noon, while the Judges host Eastern Connecticut in a pair of non-conference games on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.