Brandeis softball proved that home was where the heart is by climbing back to a winning record after sweeping WPI in their April 2nd double-header 9-1 and 5-4. The win was thanks in large part to the efforts of Kaitlin Streilein ’08, who did it all at the plate and in the field.
Game One saw the Engineers reach the scoreboard first thanks to a two-out home run by Nicole DeCampo. The Judges hardly batted an eye though, with Kaitlin Streilein tying up the game with an RBI single and a wild pitch brought home the winning run. Natalie Volpe’s ’08 RBI single capped the three run inning. Two wild pitches brought in two more runs in the bottom of the second, and four more runs were added for good measure with home runs from Streilein and Courtney Kelley ’11 to polish off the 9-1 victory.
Kaitlin Streilein earned the victory with four innings pitched and nine strikeouts. Streilein also had the only multi-hit performance, going 2-2 in game one. Heather Hassett earned the loss pitching the entire game, surrendering nine runs, seven earned in four innings.
The second game proved to be a far tighter affair with WPI kicking things off with a leadoff home run from center fielder Nicole Maglione. DeCampo knocked in Maglione in the top of the third to increase the lead to 2-0. Another RBI from DeCampo along with a single from Meg Foley put Brandeis in a rather daunting 4-0 hole.
The Judges refused to quit, though. Natalie Volpe led off with a double, and Kelley’s double brought Volpe home. Kelley later scored on a wild pitch, and a sacrifice bunt from catcher Erin Ross ’10 cut the deficit to one. The game was tied up on another wild pitch from Lindsay Brown. Brown escaped a bases loaded jam in the next inning, but in the bottom of the seventh, she surrendered a bases loaded walk to rookie Danielle Lavelle ’11. This brought home pinch runner Erin Thorn ’11, and Brandeis left with the brooms in hand.
Streilein picked up the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief pitching, and she racked up three strikeouts. Volpe earned a no decision with 4.1 innings pitched and four runs given up, three of them earned.
The Judges continue to hold down the fort in a four game home stand, taking on Framingham State today at 4 pm and Clark University on April 5th starting at noon. They follow this with a double header against Regis on April 7th. The home stand continues with Lasell and Trinity on the 8th, and then they hit the road against Suffolk on the 9th and UMass-Boston on April 10th.
With two victories in row, the Judges can hopefully see even more success on the horizon.
