ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- The Brandeis University softball team wrapped up the 2013 University Athletic Association (UAA) tournament today with an 8-5 win over Case Western Reserve. The Judges scored six runs in the third inning and hung on for the win. Along the way, sophomore CF Amanda Genovese (North Haven, Conn./North Haven) tied a UAA record with her 13th stolen base of the tournament. 

Genovese opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when she drew a lead-off walk and tied the stolen base record with rookie SS Madison Gagnon (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake) at the plate. Gagnon then singled to advance Genovese to third and rookie 2B Danielle Novotny (Milford, N.J./Delaware Valley) drove her home with a single to center. The Judges were unable to generate any further offense in the inning, as both Gagnon and Novotny were cut down on the basepaths.

Case took its first lead of the game in the top of the third when four-straight singles to all parts of the field and a sacrifice fly by 1B Rebecca Taylor produced three runs. 

The Judges responded in the bottom of the frame with their big inning, sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring six times. After loading the bases with one out, Novotny tied the game with a two-run double to center. Junior 1B Melissa Nolan (Windsor, Conn./Loomis Chafee) put Brandeis ahead on a fielder's choice to third base, while Novotny came home on an error on the same play. Sophomore RF Anya Kamber (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline) and rookie RF Madison Sullivan (Dover, N.H./Dover) also picked up RBI as Brandeis took a 7-3 lead. 

Case notched single runs in the sixth and seventh innings on a sacrifice fly by 2B Molly O'Brien and a single by LF Ashley Parello, but Nolan's second RBI of the game in the sixth helped keep the Spartans at bay, giving senior Casey Ducinski (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) her third win of the season Ducinski threw seven innings of 10-hit ball, walking two and striking out one. She gave up five runs (four earned) in throwing her second complete game of the seaosn and the 16th of her career.

Novotny was today's top offensive performer, going 3-4 with three RBI, a double and a run scored. She ended up leading the team in UAA play with seven RBI and three doubles and was second with a .481 batting average. Genovese ended up leading the team with 15 hits, seven runs scored and a .536 batting average along with her record-setting 13 stolen bases. 

The Judges return to New England with a 7-6 record, 3-5 in the UAA. They are currently 1/2 game behind Case for third place in the UAA standings, with the Spartans taking on #2 Emory in the final game of the tournament.