Thanks WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Brandeis University softball team opened its season with a pair of eight-run-rule wins on Saturday, battling rainy weather in North Carolina for February break. The Judges defeated Southern Virginia University, 8-0, in five, and Frostburg State University, 14-6, in six. The Judges are now 2-0 on the season.

In the first game, rookie Sydney Goldman (Sherman Oaks, Calif / Notre Dame) got the win in the circle and helped her own cause at the plate. As a pitcher, she held the Knights to three hits and no runs, striking out five and walking four in five innings of work for her first collegiate win. At the plate, she delivered a bases-loaded double in the second inning that drove in all three runners.

Seven of the Judges' eight runs were driven in by rookies in the opener. In addition to Goldman, 3B Marley Felder (Miami, Fla / American Heritage) drove in three with a two-run single in the first and an RBI triple in the second. 1B Amidori Anderson (Sparks, Nev. / Spanish Springs) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second. Junior Brianna Urena (Somerset, Mass. / Somerset Berkley Regional) picked up the other RBI on the day with a single in the first inning.

In game two, it was junior Scottie Todd (Tampa, Fla./Strawberry Crest) who did double duty at the plate and in the circle. She gave up an uncharacteristic six hits and six earned runs in six innings of work, striking out three and walking four in the complete game effort. She was able to get back four of the runs she gave up on her own with a pair of home runs. Todd belted a two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning to open the scoring, then added another two-run blast in the bottom of the fourth. The homers were the third and fourth of her career.

Brandeis also had six doubles among their 14 hits, including two by Urena, who drove in three runs in the game to give her four for the day. Senior catcher Keri Lehtonen (Oneco, Conn./Plainfield) and sophomore CF Melissa Rothenberg (Lawrenceville, N.J. / Lawrence) each had a two-run two-bagger. Lehtonen's came in the bottom of the sixth inning, and she scored on a wild pitch two hitters later to score the walk-off run.

The Judges are back in action on Sunday with games against Shenandoah University and Randolph College.