The Judges started their softball season off strong, winning their first four games, two of which were away. They started the season in North Carolina against South Virginia and Frostburg State on Feb. 16. The Judges started the game with three runs in the first inning and continued their success in the second inning earning five runs. The Judges secured their shutout with Rookie Sydney Goldman ’22 who kept the opponents three hits and no runs from the plate. The Judges won the game with a final score of 8-0. Goldman also hit the RBI that ran in all three runners. Seven of the eight runs were earned by rookies. First-year third baseman Marley Felder drove in a two-run single in the first inning and an RBI triple in second inning.
Later in the day, the Judges took the field again against Frostburg State, and they held nothing back. The Judges scored in almost every inning earning a strong win with a final score of 14-6. The Judges also hit six doubles out of their 14 hits. Once again, the Judges started off the game with two runs in the first inning. Scottie Todd ’20 showed up big for the Judges. She was double trouble from the plate and from the mound. She earned four of the runs and a pair of home runs, which doubled her career home runs. Catcher Keri Lehtonen ’19 and center fielder Melissa Rothenberg ’21 each had two doubles. Lehtonen’s was earned in the sixth inning, scoring on a wild pitch and scored on a walk off run. The Judges finished the game with a score of 14-6.
Two days later, the Judges hit the field again for a double header against Salem (N.C.) to close out their February. They swept the Spirits 5-3 and 5-2. In the first game, the Judges were first to get on the board with a run in the third inning on an RBI double by Lehtonen. Salem got on the board in the fourth inning with three runs of their own. After two innings without any runs, the Judges closed out the game in the seventh inning with four runs to pull out a win. Felder hit the game-tying double, and Lehtonen followed with her second-bagger getting two more runs. Todd retired nine of the 10 batters she met at the plate.
In the second game, Salem gained the upper hand in the second inning scoring two runs, but the Judges answered back in the third inning scoring two runs of our own by a two run double by shortstop Jolie Fujita ’21. Brandeis took the lead in the fifth inning with two more runs with a RBI by Marissa DeLaurentis ’19. Caroline Sippin ’20 hit a single which gave another run for the Judges making the score 4-2. In the sixth inning, the Judges closed out their win with a final RBI single by Todd. The Judges had 19 hits, nine of which were doubles. Three Brandeis pitchers held Salem to five runs on eight hits.
The Judges started the season with a 4-0 record and will be back on the field in March against Clark and will have their home opener with a double header on March 24 against Simmons.
