WALTHAM, Mass.- The Brandeis University softball team racked up 24 hits and 22 runs in two mercy-rule routs over Lasell College in today's double-header on Marcus Field. The Judges improve to 13-9 on the season while the Lasers fall to 13-13.
In the first contest, rookie Liana Moss (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura) got Brandeis going early with a two-run blast to center field in the top of the first. The Judges extended their advantage with a big fifth inning. Junior CF Amanda Genovese (North Haven, Conn./North Haven) led off the frame with a single and a steal. Two quick outs later saw junior SS Anya Kamber (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline High School) begin the rally with an RBI base knock. Brandeis would tack on three more runs off of two errors and a wild pitch to claim a 6-0 lead. Finally, the Judges put an end to the contest in the top of the sixth. Two consecutive singles followed by a groundout to the pitcher had runners on second and third with one out. Stepping to the plate to pinch-hit was sophomore 1B Jordan Buscetto (Old Lyme, Conn./Old Lyme) who drove a two RBI double into the right-center field gap for an 8-0 advantage.
Senior Melissa Nolan (Windsor, Conn./Loomis Chaffee) started the game and moved to 4-0 on the season with four excellent innings of work, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out eight. Rookie Melissa Soleimani (Somerset, Mass./Somerset Berkley Regional) closed out the game with two perfect innings and two strikeouts.
In the second half of the double-header, Brandeis picked up right where they left off. After a hit batter and a walk with one out, sophomore infielder Madison Sullivan (Dover, N.H./Dover) singled home sophomore catcher Madison Gagnon (West Lake Village, Calif./West Lake) for the 1-0 lead. Two batters later, the bases were loaded with two outs for Nolan. Nolan made the most of the opportunity by hammering a grand slam to right-center to extend the advantage to 5-0. The Judges continued the offensive onslaught, scoring three, four, and two runs respectively in the next three innings as they cruised to a 14-1 victory in five innings.
Junior Nikki Cote (Shelton, Conn./St. Joseph's) improved to 3-5 on the season with three innings of work, allowing one run on four hits while fanning three. Rookie Emma Krulick (Mailtland, Fla./Winter Park) added two shutout innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out two.
Offensively, Genovese, Kamber, and Sullivan each racked up four hits over the course of the two games. Genovese added four runs and two stolen bases while Kamber and Sullivan combined for six runs, seven RBI, and two stolen bases.
Brandeis hits the road on Thursday April 10th for a double-header at 4:00 p.m. against Salem State. Lasell heads home for a 3:00 p.m. double-header against Johnson & Wales starting at 3:00 p.m.