ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – The Brandeis University softball team ended its 2015 University Athletic Association tournament with a 5-2 defeat at the hands of 23rd-ranked Washington University, who claimed a share of the conference title with the win.
The Judges fell behind, 2-0, after the Bears scored a single run each in the first and second innings. Sophomore starter Samantha Wroblewski (Delray Beach, Fla./Spanish River) stranded three runners in the two frames, allowing Brandeis to get back into the contest.
In the top of the third, rookie CF Amanda Shore (San Diego, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) led off the frame with a home run to center field, cutting the deficit in half. It was Shore's first collegiate homer and made her the fifth different Brandeis player to go deep this season. The Judges were able to get two force outs, including one at the plate, and a pop fly in the bottom of the third to keep it a one-run game.
In the fourth, sophomore LF Madison Hunter (Parker, Colo./Legend) blasted her second home of the season with two away to tie the game at 2-2.
In Washington's half of the inning, Wroblewski got the first two outs of the inning, but the Bears' Paige Biles manufactured the game-winning run by singling through the right side, stealing second and third and scoring when Kenzie James beat out a bunt single. WashU added two more singles, with Hannah Mehrle driving in her second and third runs of the game to make it a 5-2 lead.
The Judges put two runners on in the sixth, but Washington hurler Annie Pitkin got two Ks to escape without damage, and a seventh-inning walk went for naught as the Bears claimed their share of the UAA title.
Brandeis returns to New England with a 6-7 record, 3-7 in the UAA, good for fourth place. The Judges are scheduled to play games in the region this weekend – stay tuned to Brandeisjudges.com for more information.