ATLANTA, Ga. – The Brandeis University softball team used an offensive explosion over the first three innings then held off host Emory University to take a 7-5 victory in the opener of a four-game University Athletic Association series today.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis: 10-1, 5-0 UAA.
• Emory: 12-11, 2-2 UAA.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Judges started strong, putting three of their first four hitters on to load the bases with one out. Sophomore 2B Anna Kolb (Alexandria, Va. / Thomas A. Edison) plated the first run on a fielder's choice to shortstop, while first-year 1B Maddie Manes (San Clemente, Calif / San Juan Hills) dropped a single down the right-field line to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.
• Emory answered in the bottom of the frame, with a couple of seeing-eye singles followed by a two-run double by catcher Ella Hoyle to tie things up against Brandeis rookie Ragini Kannan (Wesford, Mass./Westford Academy). Kannan followed by hitting a batter, but escaped by getting the next three outs in a row.
• Brandeis batted around in the second inning, scoring four runs as 10 hitters came to the plate against Emory reliever Mackenzie Duford.
• The Judges started with two one-out singles, and first-year SS Bells Burdenski (San Diego, Calif. / Rancho Bernardo) reached when her grounder was dropped on the throw to first, putting the Judges ahead, 3-2, with runners on the corners.
• Burdenski and Hunt then executed a double-steal to make it a 4-2 edge. Brandeis loaded the bases with one still out, and Kolb's grounder to short was booted, bringing home two more runs, making it 6-2.
• The Judges added another run in the third on an RBI single by junior DP Alex Cohen (West Palm Beach, Fla./The Benjamin School) to extend the lead to 7-2. Emory got out of further trouble, stranding runners on second and third.
• The Eagles scored one run in the third on a bases-loaded walk and two more in the fourth, but Kannan stranded five Eagle runners in the two frames to maintain a 7-5 lead.
• Neither team threatened in the last three innings, though Kannan worked around either a walk or a hit batter in each frame.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Kannan improved to 7-0 on the season, despite giving up the most hits (9), runs (5) and walks (four) she has allowed all season. She struck out three and hit two opposing batters as she tossed her sixth complete game of the season.
• Despite settling down after her shaky first two innings, Duford fell to 9-3 on the campaign. She allowed six hits and five runs (one earned) in six innings, striking out three and walking one.
• Hunt was Brandeis's top hitter, going 3-for-4 out of the leadoff slot with three runs scored. She also had a stolen base.
• Cohen was also 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Emory's Hoyle was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Ashley Chu and Natalie Swift each had two hits and two runs scored. Chu was 1-for-2 on stolen-base attempts.

UP NEXT

• Brandeis and Emory will meet again on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon.