LA VERNE, Calif. – The Brandeis University softball team dropped its first contest of the season today in the opener of a doubleheader to host University of La Verne, 3-0, but the Judges bounced back to earn a split of the doubleheader with a 5-3 win in game two. The Judges, ranked 22nd in Division III, now stand at 3-1 on the season, while the Leopards are 4-1.
In the opener, La Verne starter Rachel Rubio scattered five hits to blank the Judges and improve to 3-0 on the young season. She struck out six and did not walk a batter. Rubio only allowed two runners past first base on the afternoon. In the second inning, senior LF Amidori Anderson (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs) singled with one out and moved to third first-year 1B Fiona Doiron's (Charlton, Mass. / Marianapolis Prep.) base hit, but Rubio got out of the inning with a liner to short. In the sixth, sophomore 3B Haley Nash (Delmar, N.Y. / Bethlehem Central) doubled down the left-field line with two out, but was stranded thanks to a Rubio strikeout.
ULV got all the scoring they would need in the third. Bailey Grani walked to lead off the inning. Two batters later, she scored on Haylee Hsieh's triple. Hsieh then scored on a Marissa Acosta base hit. The Leopards got one more in the fourth. Brandeis sophomore starter Rebecca Guerci (Roslyn, N.Y. / Herricks) hit the first two batters of the inning with pitches. Judge coach Dani Bishop summoned sophomore Alex Cohen (West Palm Beach, Fla. / The Benjamin School) from the bullpen. Cohen allowed an RBI double to Ashley Rodriguez to score the third run, but she then worked out of a bases-loaded, no out situation. The Judges picked up a bit of luck when Clarissa Salazar's hit to second base hit a runner for the first out. Cohen then struck out the next two to avoid further trouble.
No Brandeis hitter had multiple hits, and Nash's double was the only extra-base hit. Guerci and Nash allowed just six hits of their own, but one of their two walks came around to score, and their two extra-base hits produced runs as well.
In the second game, grad student CF Melissa Rothenberg (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) swung the big bat, hitting the team's first home run of the season and driving in another run as the Judges picked up the 5-3 win. Rothenberg smacked a solo home run with one out in the second inning to open the scoring. It was her eighth career homer. La Verne went ahead in the bottom of the fourth inning Alyssa Campbell went yard with one on to take a 2-1 lead.
In the next half inning, Brandeis responded with three runs of their own. Senior 2B Marley Felder (Miami, Fla / American Heritage) and grad student SS Jolie Fujita (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) each singled in a run, then Rothernberg drew a bases-loaded walk give Brandeis a 4-2 lead. Felder added another RBI in the sixth inning to give Brandeis some more breathing room. ULV got a run back in the sixth on a Janisa Rojo single, but the Judges were able to escape further damage before taking the win, 5-3.
First-year lefty pitcher Madeline Gorey (Lake George, N.Y. / Lake George) earned the win in the circle, allowing nine hits and three earned runs in her seven-inning complete game. She struck out two and walked one, allowing one home run. Offensively, Rothenberg (2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) and Felder (2-4, R, 2 RBI) were the stars for the Judges.
Brandeis returns to action tomorrow at 3:30 pm. Eastern Standard (12:30 Pacific) at Whittier College.