FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (taken from an FSU press release) – The 20th-ranked Brandeis softball team twice broke a 1-1 deadlock with a big fifth inning today as the Judges swept Framingham State University, 3-1 and 5-1, on Maple Street Field, as the contests were moved to FSU because of wet field conditions at Brandeis. The Judges improve to 27-2-1, while the Rams fall to 18-16.
With their two wins today, the Judges tied for the most in a single season since 2012. It's the fifth-highest single-season total in program history.
In the opener, the Rams, who were playing as the visiting team as the doubleheader, got on the board in the top of the first. Sophomore Camille Desrochers doubled to lead off the game and advanced to third on a ground out. Sophomore Grace Caughey grounded out allowing Desrochers to score from third.
The Judges tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second. Sophomore shortstop Jolie Fujita (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) belted a triple down the line in right and came around to score the tying run on an RBI single off the bat of rookie DP Sydney Goldman (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame).
The game remained tied until the bottom of the fifth when the Judges plated a pair. Singles from sophomore centerfielder Melissa Rothenberg (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) and rookie leftfielder Amidori Anderson (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs) gave the Judges runners on first and second with one out. After a line out, freshman third baseman Marley Felder (Miami, Fla./American Heritage) delivered a double that scored Rothenberg and an error in the Rams outfield allowed the second run to score.
Brandeis Junior Scottie Todd (Tampa, Fla./Strawberry Crest) retired the Rams in order in the seventh to record her 12th victory of the season. Todd went seven innings allowing one earned run on three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Senior Kelsi Gunarathne took the loss for the Rams going six innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
In game two, the Rams once again grabbed the lead in the top of the first. Desrochers led off with a double to left center. After a pair of outs, senior Lauren Salisbury delivered an RBI single through the left side for the 1-0 lead.
Once again, the Judges tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Felder tripled to right field with one out and scored from third when Goldman reached on an error.
The game remained tied until Brandeis took the lead with four in the bottom of the fifth. Singles from senior rightfielder Marysa Massoia (Feeding Hills, Mass./Brooks School), senior catcher Keri Lehtonen (Oneco, Conn./PLainfield) and Felder loaded the bases with one out. Todd followed with an RBI groundout for the 2-1 lead. Fujita reached on an error allowing two runs to score and Goldman followed with an RBI double to right center.
Goldman earned the win in the circle for the Judges going seven innings allowing one earned run on five hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. She improved to 13-0 on the season. Caughey took the loss for Rams going five innings and allowing five runs, two earned, on six hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Salisbury finished the game with two hits for the Rams, while Felder recorded two with two runs scored for the Judges.
Brandeis will close out their regular season this weekend with a four-game University Athletic Association series with Emory, starting with two games at 2 p.m. on Friday on Marcus Field. The Judges lead the Eagles by two games in the conference standings and can earn their first UAA crown since 1995 with a split. FSU plays a pair against Roger Williams tomorrow at 3 p.m.