STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Brandeis University softball team earned a series split with NYU today, hanging on for a 5-4 win over the Violets at the College of Staten Island. With the win, the Judges improve to 22-16 on the season, 8-12 in the University Athletic Association, clinching third place in the league. The Violets fall to 13-20, 7-11 UAA , finishing in fourth place.
The Judges opened the scoring in the second inning. They loaded the bases with no outs, and after NYU got the first two out on forces at the plate, grad student Jolie Fujita (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) singled to center to break the ice. Sophomore RF Alex Cohen (West Palm Beach, Fla./Benjamin School) answered by reaching on an error to make it 2-0 in favor of the Judges.
NYU got one run back in the third when LF Sophia Leon singled with two out, moved to second on a wild pitch, stole second and scored on another wild pitch.
The Judges responded in the fourth with two more runs, another RBI for Fujita and an RBI hit for Cohen. Brandeis added a key insurance run in the sixth when sophomore 3B Haley Nash (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) blasted the Judges' first home run of the series to center field. It was Nash's seventh of the season – second-most in the UAA – and the 12th of her career. Nash is now tied for 10th on the Judges' all-time homer list.
NYU made a game of it with two runs in the sixth thanks to a two-run home run by CF Erin Scott that cut their deficit to 5-3. In the seventh, the first two Violets reached on a single and an error. Cohen, who had come in to pitch in the fourth, got the next two outs on flies to left field, but NYU rightfielder Brianna Roman bounced one up the middle to get the hosts within one. Cohen got the next batter on another fly to left, securing the series split.
Cohen earned the win, throwing four innings of four-hit relief, giving up three runs (two earned) with two strikeouts. She improved to 11-4. Senior Sydney Goldman (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame) tossed the first three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run, walking two and striking out two. NYU's Maggie Swan took the loss, falling to 6-7 after allowing 10 hits and four runs (two earned) in five innings with two walks and two Ks.
Fujita and senior LF Amidori Anderson (Sparks, Nev./Spanish River) led the Brandeis offense with three hits apiece. Fujita finished with two RBI, while Anderson scored two runs and had a stolen base, improving to 13-for-13 on the season. NYU's six hits came from six different players, with Scott's homer making her the only Violet player with two RBI.
Brandeis will close out the regular season on Tuesday, April 26th, with a home doubleheader against Tufts.