WALTHAM, Mass. – The visiting Fitchburg State College softball team scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to help overcome a pair of two-run home runs by host Brandeis University as the Falcons defeated the Judges, 7-5, on Marcus Field today.

Fitchburg State (8-10) scored an unearned run in the first inning and two more in the third, while Brandeis (11-13) got two in the bottom of the first on sophomore Kaitlin Streilein's (Point Pleasant, N.J.) second home run of the season. The Judges scored an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game, 3-3.

In the decisive top of the fifth, the Falcons rapped out six of their 10 hits to chase Brandeis sophomore starter Dani Mayer (Larkspur, Calif.). Sophomore 3B Sasha Richardson (Leominster, Mass.) doubled to lead off the frame and scored the go-ahead run on a single by rookie LF Jessie Krause (Cornwall, N.Y.). After a sacrifice fly by sophomore CF Jess Morse (Milford, Mass.) gave FSC a two-run lead, a two-run double by sophomore catcher Emily Creen (Worcester, Mass.) proved to be the game-winning hit.

Brandeis got two runs back in the bottom of sixth when junior catcher Christina McWilliams (Billerica, Mass.) hit her second round-tripper of the campaign as Mayer scored ahead of her. Rookie RF Victoria Roomet (Jamaica, N.Y.) singled to try to keep the rally going, but got thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, and the Judges were unable to threaten in the seventh.

FSC was paced by Richardson's 2-4 performance with two runs scored and two doubles, while Creen was 2-3 with a double and two RBI. Krause produced three runs, going 2-4 with two runs scored and one batted in. Junior captain Michelle Yuille (Acushnet, Mass.) went the distance for the win, striking out three and scattering seven hits to improve to 4-6 on the season.

Brandeis had just one multiple hitter, senior SS Mari Levine (Hopkinton, Mass.), who went 2-3 with a run scored. Mayer suffered the loss, allowing seven runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings of work. She struck out three while walking one and allowing nine hits. She fell to 0-2 on the year.