After a four-day rest, the softball team faced Lasell College for a doubleheader at Brandeis on Tuesday. In two mercy-rule-shortened games the Judges dominated winning 8-0 in six innings and 14-1 in five.
The first game began with Amanda Genovese ’15, as she singled on a bunt and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Madison Gagnon ’16. The small ball ended there as Liana Moss ’17 hit a two-run home run to center field. The Judges’ hard-hitting offense was then stifled by Eileen Bergin until the fifth inning. With Genovese on second and two outs, Anya Kamber ’15 hit a single to left field to score Genovese. Madison Sullivan ’16 singled to advance Kamber. A steal and wild pitch scored Kamber and advanced Sullivan to third. Cori Coleman ’15 walked to put runners on the corners. An error allowed the runners to advance again, scoring Sullivan. A fielding error put runners on first and third again before Melissa Nolan ’14 stole second and Coleman scored on an error by the catcher. Two runners were in scoring position for the Judges in the sixth, prompting Jordan Buscetto ’16 to hit a two-RBI double to right center for the game’s final run.
The Lasers managed only one hit during the game and made three errors, all in the fifth. Genovese led the game with three hits and three runs. Moss and Buscetto each had two RBI’s. Nolan pitched four strong innings, allowing the sole hit, striking out eight and walking only one for her fourth win. Melissa Soleimani ’17 finished the game with two innings of no-hit ball.
Brandeis’ power continued in the next game, scoring 14 runs in the first four innings. Gagnon was the first base runner of the game, reaching first after getting hit in the opening frame. Next, a Kamber walk pushed Gagnon to second before she scored on a single down the right field line by Sullivan. Moss was hit to load the bases. With the bases loaded and two outs Nolan hit a homer to right center to cap a 5-0 lead. In the second, a walk by Gagnon extended the inning allowing the next three batters to get a hit; Kamber and Sullivan doubled and Coleman singled to add three runs. A six-hit third inning put the game far out of reach for Lasell. Moss began with a double before an error allowed her to reach third. Madison Hunter ’17 singled Moss home. Leah McWilliams ’14 reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a passed ball and third on a Genovese single. Genovese stole second, and both runners scored as Gagnon singled to left. Kamber extended the inning with a single before a single by Sullivan scored Gagnon. The Lasers got a lucky break in the bottom of the third as two wild pitches put Santina Antoshak on third before scoring on a single by Courtney Moen. With two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth, Gagnon singled down the middle to score Nolan. Kamber singled in the next at-bat, bringing home Hunter to conclude the games offense.
The two-three-four hitters in the order, Gagnon, Kamber and Sullivan, each had three RBI’s and multiple hits and runs. Nolan led all with four RBI’s on two hits, in addition to crossing home plate twice. Nikki Cote ’15 moves to 3-5 with the win, allowing one run on four hits in three innings, striking out three. Emma Krulick ’17 finished the victory giving up two hits in two innings, striking out two.
Brandeis extends their record to 13-9. They have a doubleheader against Salem State University on Thursday before a weekend break. They face Worcester Polytechnic Institute at home on Wednesday.
