WALTHAM, Mass. (courtesy Endicott sports information) – The Brandeis softball team ran its winning streak to nine games with a sweep of visiting Endicott College. The Judges took a 4-1 decision in the opener and a 12-3 five-inning victory in the nightcap. The Judges now own a 14-8 record, while the Gulls fall to 12-9.

Three runs over the first three innings and a six-inning, eight-strikeout effort by Judge senior pitcher Caroline Miller (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Harriton) were enough to carry the hosts in the opener.

In the top of the first, Brandeis leadoff hitter Amanda Genovese (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline) singled, stole second and got to third on a Marianne Specker (South Windsor, Conn./Westminster School).  A fielder's choice grounder by senior CF Lauren Porcaro (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) brought home Genovese to put Brandeis ahead 1-0.

The Judges tacked on another run in the bottom half of the second inning as Genovese slapped a single to left to plate senior Megan DeNubila (Princeton, Mass./Wachusett Regional) making it 2-0 in favor of the home team.

Brandeis put Endicott in a 4-0 hole after a third inning that saw the Judges get a two-run blast to centerfield by Miller, her fourth long ball of the season. Endicott managed to plate one runner on the top of the seventh on a RBI double by junior third baseman Jocelyn Russo (Middletown, Conn.), her eighth RBI of the season.

Endicott managed just four hits in the game while Brandeis had 10 against three different pitchers.  Endicott's Kayla Carignan (Laconia, N.H.) took the loss to drop to 3-2 on the season.

In game two, Brandeis senior Brittany Grimm (Perkiomenville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) recorded seven RBI, including four on one swing, as she hit a grand slam home run over the centerfield wall in a six-run, bottom of the third for the Judges. Grimm also hit a three-run blast in the fifth that ended the game. Grimm now has four home runs this season and 11 for her career, tied with three others for seventh place on the Judges' career list. Genovese continued her strong play with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate with two runs and a RBI.

Brandeis owned a 9-0 lead headed into the top of the fifth but an RBI single by junior Krista Fales (Melrose, Mass.) followed by a two-RBI hit to left center by junior Byrne Katz (Trumbull, Conn.) finally got Endicott on the board. Brandeis, however, got those runs right back and ended the game on a three-run, walk-off homerun by Grimm.

Brandeis sophomore hurler Melissa Nolan (Windsor, Conn./Loomis Chaffee School) improved to 5-1 after going five innings, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five.  Gulls sophomore Nell O'Connor (Harwich, Mass.) took the loss, falling to 3-2 on the year.