FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University softball team completed a four-game sweep of #24th-ranked Framingham State this afternoon, as the Judges defeated the Rams 3-0 in both games of a doubleheader. Brandeis improves to 8-0 overall this season, while FSU falls to 17-5.
The Judges were the beneficiary of a pair of terrific pitching performances, as junior Sydney Goldman (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame) and rookie Rebecca Guerci (Roslyn, N.Y./Herricks) each tossed two-hitters. Goldman, who allowed just one hit to the Rams yesterday, tossed her third shutout in four starts, striking out 13 batters and walking just two. Goldman has now struck out at least 11 in each of her four starts and is averaging 13.72 strikeouts per seven innings while allowing just opponents to hit just .075 against her. In game two, Guerci was nearly as efficient, facing just four batters over the minimum with two hits and two walks, striking out one, to improve to 2-0 on the season. She has given up just six hits in 14 innings pitched this season.
Offensively in game one, Brandeis scored a run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly from rookie Haley Nash (Delmar, N.Y. / Bethlehem Central) that plated junior Marley Felder (Miami, Fla./American Heritage School). The Judges added two insurance runs in the sixth thanks to a grounder by Tara Striggow (Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral) that brought home two runs. In the second contest, senior Melissa Rothenberg (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) broke a scoreless deadlock in the fifth inning with her second home run of the season and the sixth her career. Nash added her second RBI of the day in the sixth with a double, providing some insurance.
The Judges improve to 8-0 for the second time in three seasons with the wins. They return to action next Saturday, April 24th, with a home doubleheader against Johnson and Wales at 12 p.m. Spectators are not allowed at Brandeis because of coronavirus restrictions, but the games will be broadcast at www.brandeisjudges.com.