WALTHAM, Mass. - On March 10-14, the Brandeis softball team competed in the 2009 University Athletic Association Softball Championship Tournament in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Brandeis junior C Erin Ross of Manalapan, N.J., and sophomore 2B Melisa Cagar of Ridgewood, N.J., were named to the all-tournament team for their efforts in Florida.
In the eight games played, Ross batted .308 (8-for-26) from the plate with one double and a home run. She scored four times, and drove in a team-high six RBI. Her best offensive performance came in the UAA opener against #8 Emory University on March 10. Ross went 2-for-4 with two RBI in a 3-2 loss. She followed that up with another two RBI game against Case Western Reserve on March 13. In a 6-2 victory, Ross went 1-for-2 reaching base two times on a double which drove in two and a fielder's choice. Behind the plate she played exceptionally well. She had 32 putouts in 37 chances with four assists and only one error.
Cagar hit .345 (10 for 29) in the UAA with one home run (4th in the UAA), three RBI, a team-high seven runs (3rd in the UAA), and four walks (6th in the UAA). She finished tied for the most stolen bases (6) in the UAA on six attempts (most in UAA) in the eight conference games. On March 13 the Judges faced Case Western and Washington University. Cagar provided her best combined performance of the year as she went 5-for-8 from the plate scoring three times and driving in one RBI. She had a home run in the #15 Washington contest and two stolen bases against Case.
In Jessica Johnson's third year as head coach for the Judges, she has seen her club start the year 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the UAA. In the UAA opener on March 10, the Judges lost a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh to #8 Emory University. Two days later they faced #16 Rochester and Emory for the second time in 3 days. They defeated Rochester, 3-2, and lost to Emory 6-2 in a nine-inning affair. When they returned home from Florida they visited Wellesley College on March 18 for a doubleheader in which the Judges grabbed two non-conference victories. Brandeis will now look to get to a record of 7-7 overall as they face Lasell College in a doubleheader on March 24.
Ross is a 2006 graduate of Manalapan High School. She is the daughter of Steven and Marie Ross of Manalapan, N.J.
Cagar is a 2007 graduate of Ridgewood High School. She is the daughter of Cengiz and Virginia Cagar of Ridgewood, N.J.