WALTHAM, Mass.- The Brandeis softball team swept the Framingham State Rams this evening with a walk-off win and a mercy-rule win at Marcus Field. The Judges defeated FSU 6-5 in eight innings in the opener before cruising to an 11-3 five inning victory in the nightcap. Sophomore shortstop Anya Kamber (Sammamish, Wash./ Skyline High School) led Brandeis offensively going 3-for-6 with two runs and three RBIs in the two games, including two home runs. The Judges improve to 13-8 on the year while the Rams fall to 4-12.
In the first game, it looked like it would be a pitchers' duel. Through the first six innings, the two squads were all tied up at 2-2. Senior starter Casey Ducinski (Duxbury, Mass./ Duxbury) was excellent in her six innings of work allowing two runs while walking one and striking out four. However, the bats woke up in the seventh. In the top of the frame, errors became costly for the Judges as the first two batters got on base. With runners on first and third, FSU's junior 1B Andrea Smith (Milford, Mass./ Milford) singled in the go-ahead run. The Rams would tack on two more in the frame to take a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh. In the frame, two FSU errors would aid Brandeis as they advanced runners to second and third. With two outs, sophomore center fielder Amanda Genovese (North Haven, Conn./ North Haven) kept the game alive with an RBI single right up the middle to make it 5-3. Up next was rookie 2B Danielle Novotny (Milford, N.J./ Delaware Valley) who delivered with a clutch two RBI single to tie the game at 5-5. Still, with runners on first and second, sophomore catcher Cori Coleman (Burr Ridge, Ill./ Hinsdale South) flew out to center field to send the game to extra innings. After sophomore pitcher Nikki Cote (Shelton, Conn./ St. Joseph's) shut the Rams out in the top of the eighth, Brandeis had a chance to win in the bottom of the frame. With Coleman placed on second to start the inning, sophomore 1B Melissa Nolan (Windsor, Conn./ Loomis Chaffee) led off with a sacrifice bunt to move Coleman to third. Kamber was next and she drove home the game-winning run on her single to left field as the Judges walked-off, 6-5. Offensively five different players had an RBI as Genovese led the way going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Cote (4-4) got the win after two innings in relief when she allowed three runs, none earned, and struck out three.
In the nightcap, the two teams were locked in another tight game until the fifth inning. With the score tied at 3-3, Brandeis came to bat in the bottom of the fifth. When the Judges were finally done hitting, eight runs had crossed the plate on seven hits including two home runs as Brandeis won by mercy-rule 11-3. Every batter in the Judges lineup had at least one hit in the contest, featuring five batters with multiple hits. Ducinski led the way with her 3-for-3 performance including a run scored while Coleman had a team-high three RBIs including a two-run shot to center field. Kamber also had a fine game going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs on two solo home runs. Nolan (3-2) earned the win going five innings and allowing three runs while walking three and striking out 12.
Brandeis returns to action on Sunday with a double-header against Lasell beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Marcus Field. FSU has a double-header at Westfield State tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m.