Three may have been the magic number according to school house rock and the third time is the charm. But for Brandeis Judges softball, four proved to be the charmed figure as Brandeis rung up four runs twice in their double header against Wellesley; taking the first game 4-2 and swept the Blue away 4-0.
Errors put the Judges in the hole early in game one after Wellesley second baseman Sinta Cebrian reached on an error from shortstop Brittany Grimm ’12. The damage was felt two batters later when Elora Daniele marked her first ever collegiate at-bat with a 2-run homer to center field. Brandeis quickly responded in the top of the third, with Melissa Cagar ’11 reaching on a one out single and then stole second and third. Cagar was nearly left stranded but a miscue from Wellesley shortstop Daniele on Grimm’s grounder helped Brandeis cut the lead down to 2-1.
The top of the fifth saw the flood gates for Brandeis. After Grimm’s single loaded the bases with one out, Erin Ross ’10 knocked across the winning runs with her two run single to left field. Danielle Lavallee’s ’11 ground out to second brought home Grimm for the insurance tally and Brandeis finished game one the 4-2 victors.
Brittany Grimm went 2-4, batting from the three spot while Erin Ross fulfilled the clean up duties, following Grimm with a 1-3 plate performance with two runs batted in. Lara Hirschler ’12, Marianne Specker ’12 and Carly Schmand ’11 all had a hit in game one.
Emily Vaillette ’10 earned her first win of the season, scattering five hits over a complete seven innings and racked up six strikeouts along with no walks. No runs were charged to Vaillette. Wellesley hurler Megan Wood picked up the loss, matching Vaillette’s seven innings, surrendering 4 runs – three earned on seven hits. Wood also struck out three Judges.
Game two proved to be a pitcher’s duel as Caroline Miller ’12 matched Wellesley pitcher Barbarajean Grundlock holding the other scoreless through five innings. The deadlock ended at the top of the sixth as Chelsea Korp’s ’10 bases loaded single brought home pinch runner Megan DeNubila ’12. Brandeis added another run on a fielder’s choice. The top of the seventh saw Brandeis place runners on second and third with one out when Lavallee and Marianne Specker ’12 each brought in a run to establish the 4-0 lead. Miller secured the shut out getting the Blue to go out quietly at the bottom of the inning.
Samantha Gajewski ’12 went 2-4 for Brandeis while Marianna Specker was a perfect 3-3 at bat with one RBI. Alison Davis and Amanda Tai were the only batters to scratch out hits against Miller.
Miller went a complete 7 innings giving up no runs, one walk, two hits and picked up a pair of strikeouts. Grundlock also threw a complete game, giving up four runs on eight hits, three earned chalked up five Brandeis strikeouts. Miller is now 3-1 on the season while Grundlock fell to 0-2.
Judges softball improves to 5-7 and will look to build on their double header sweep starting with a Mar. 24 double header Lasell. Brandeis then plays another road double header on the 25th this time at Clark. Both sets are 3 pm and 5 pm games.
