Softball bounces back with two wins over Wellesley

Brianna Urena '20 (Sportspix)
Brianna Urena '20 (Sportspix)

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University softball team swept its final non-conference home games of the season on Wednesday, winning both ends of a doubleheader against the Wellesley Blue. The Judges took the first game, 9-2, and used some clutch hitting to win the second, 4-3. Brandeis is now 8-14 on the season, while Wellesley fell to 7-20.

HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 1 (Brandeis, 9-2)

  • Wellesley jumped out in front first, taking a 1-0 lead on an error with the bases loaded in the top of the first.

  • The Judges answered back immediately, scoring three runs in their first at-bat. After junior Keri Lehtonen (Oneco, Conn. / Plainfield) doubled to left field and junior Marysa Massoia (Feeding Hills, Mass. / Suffield Acad.) sacrificed her over, junior Marissa DeLaurentis (Centereach, N.Y. / St. John the Baptist Diocesan) smacked one into the gap for an RBI double. Senior Amanda Shore (San Jose, Calif. / Archbishop Mitty) brought DeLaurentis home with a single up the middle, advancing to second on the throw. Sophomore Scottie Todd (Tampa, Fla. / Strawberry Crest) kept the ball rolling with another single to center, bringing home Shore.

  • Things were quiet until the bottom of the third, when Brandeis tacked on another run on a sacrifice fly from freshman Bridget Cifuni (Georgetown, Mass. / Brooks School).

  • The Blue got back to within two runs in the top of the fourth. Lucy Cheskin hit an infield single and then stole second, setting the table for an RBI double by Julia Warner.

  • The Judges got some breathing room in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of three Wellesley errors, including obstruction on a steal of home, to go ahead 7-2.

  • Brandeis did not sit back, adding two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Shore led off with her first home run of the season, sending one high over the left-center field fence. After two walks and a fielder's choice, freshman Jolie Fujita (Honolulu, Hawaii / Punahou School) singled to right field, bringing home sophomore Brianna Urena (Somerset, Mass. / Somerset Berkley Regional).

  • Shore had the best day at the plate of any Judge, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two RBIs, and three runs scored.

  • Todd once again had a great day in the pitcher's circle, throwing a complete game five-hitter and allowing two earned runs. With the win, she moved to 4-5 for the season.

  • Wellesley threw four pitchers in game one, but Julia Warner was tagged for the loss, allowing three runs on six hits over the first two innings. She is now 5-8.

  • The eleven hits were the Judges' most since one week ago, when they had 13 in game one of a doubleheader against Fitchburg State. The nine runs were also the most since a week ago, when they scored eleven times in game two against Fitchburg State.

HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 2 (Brandeis, 4-3)

  • Wellesley again scored a run in the top of the first this time on a two-out single from Gen Brittingham which scored Amanda Manning.

  • The Judges took a little longer to grab the lead this time, scoring two in the bottom of the second on DeLaurentis' third home run of the season to go ahead, 2-1.

  • Shore doubled the Brandeis lead in the third inning, hitting her second home run of the day over the left field fence.

  • The Judges cruised through the fourth and the fifth innings, but the Blue would not go quietly. Kendall Smith and Brittingham led off the sixth inning with back-to-back home runs, tying the game. The Judges were able to escape without any further damage done.

  • Brandeis showed its resiliency in the bottom of the frame. With one out, sophomore Taylor Simala (Wellsburg, W.Va. / Brooke) put one off the right field fence for a double, missing a go-ahead home run by a few feet. Urena followed with a clutch RBI double down the left field line, putting the Judges back ahead by one.

  • Wellesley got the leadoff hitter on to start its last licks. After a fielder's choice at second base, Lehtonen made a strong throw to cut down Manning, who was attempting to steal. Kalei Oliver followed with a flyout to center for the final out of the game.

  • Simala had the Judges' lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

  • Senior Sadie-Rose Apfel (Stamford, Conn. / Westhill) made a solid start for the Judges, allowing three runs (two earned) over five-plus innings, striking out four. Sophomore Callie MacDonald (Hanover, Mass. / Hanover) took over for Apfel in relief, allowing just one hit and one walk over two innings and earning the win, moving to 3-8 for the year.

  • Warner pitched the entire game for the Blue, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk. She took a tough loss, falling to 5-9.

UP NEXT

  • The Judges travel to the Big Apple this weekend, playing doubleheaders against NYU on Friday, April 20, beginning at 4 PM, and Saturday, April 21, beginning at 1 PM.

  • Wellesley also plays next on Friday, hosting Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a doubleheader starting at 3 PM.

--Corey Cohen