This past Saturday, pitcher Kaitlin Streilein '08 pitched her first career no-hitter for Brandeis, as they defeated Wheelock College 9-0. The game was ended after five innings, as the NCAA employs an eight-run mercy rule.
Streilein stuck out five opposing batters while giving up no hits or walks. A dropped third strike accounted for the only base runner for Wheelock in the game. Coach Mary Sullivan said the key to Streileins success was that she kept the opposing hitters off-guard with her different pitches. According to Sullivan, Wheelock never got the ball out of the infield.
Streilein also contributed at the plate, going 2-4 with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored, and 4 runs batted in. Danielle Mayer 08 also contributed a run and RBI as she went two for two.
Later that day, Brandeis lost a close battle to Worchester Polytechnic Institute by a score of 7-5 after a failed comeback in the seventh inning. Natalie Volpe 08 started the game and gave up six earned runs in six innings, fanning four. Mayer pitched a 1-2-3 7th inning in relief. Streilein went 4-4 at the plate, while Elissa Glucksman 06 had three walks and scored twice.
Brandeis was down by six runs in the bottom of the seventh when it mounted a comeback. Glucksman walked to lead off the inning. After Amelia Schimmel 08 flew out to left, six straight Brandeis batters reached base, scoring six runs in the process. But with bases loaded, one out, and the tying run on second base, Brandeis could not convert as Christina McWilliams 07 flied out and Glucksman lined out to end the game.
On Tuesday, Brandeis started UAA competition when it took on Washington University, ranked 7th in the nation. Washington showed why they were ranked 7th as they won 19-1 in five innings. Streilein gave up 10 runs in the first three innings. Mayer gave up six earned runs in two innings of relief. The lone Brandeis run came in the fifth inning, when Mari Levine 06 reached on an error, Volpe hit a double, and Mayer reached on an error, scoring Levine in the process.
Brandeis faired better on Wednesday, when they beat Case Western Reserve 6-2, but then lost to Emory University 7-1. Against Case Western, Volpe pitched the compete game and gave up only one earned run and seven hits, while striking out seven. Volpe also went 4-4 with two doubles, one run, and two RBIs. Streilein pitched the compete game against Emory, ranked eleventh in the nation. Steilein gave up only three earned runs, but eleven hits. An error early in the third inning resulted in Emory scoring five runs, only two of which were earned.
Brandeis continued UAA tournament play throughout the rest of the week.
