The Brandeis Softball team traveled to California to face West Coast competition in preparation for their Spring 2022 season that is fast approaching. Ranked number 22 in Division III in the preseason by the NFCA, the Judges finished six-two on the week. The Softball squad swept Occidental College and Whittier College, while splitting with the University of Redlands and the University of La Verne.
In the Judges 8-3 and 11-3 defeats against Occidental College, outfielder Amidori Anderson ’22 was the big hitter for the Judges, as she went three-for-seven with a double, four RBI, four runs scored and three stolen bases. In each game, Anderson drove in two runs and led the Judges to their first two victories of the season. Pitcher Alex Cohen ’24 had a strong showing offensively and defensively, as she went 4-for-8 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored on the day. Cohen earned the opening win for the Judges in the circle, tossing four innings of five-hit relief, only allowing one earned run while striking out five without issuing a walk.
In her first collegiate at-bat, Fiona Doiron ’25 drove in the game-winning run in the opening runs with a two-run single. Jolie Fujita (GRAD) scored four runs on the day, while Melissa Rothenberg drove in three; both Fujita and Rothenberg are graduate students at Brandeis University who have returned to the Judges squad this season. Rebecca Guerci ’24 helped control the second game from the circle in six innings; she allowed six hits and three earned runs, striking out two and walking none. Guerci threw an impressive 52 of her 65 pitches for strikes.
On the second day of competition, the Judges split with host University of La Verne. After failing to La Verne 3-0 in the opener, the Judges bounced back to earn a win in the second game of the doubleheader, 5-3. While the Judges did have opportunities to score in the first game, the second was where they gained momentum. Rothenberg hit the Brandeis squad’s first home run of the season, in addition to driving in another run allowing the Judges to secure a five-three victory over the La Verne Leopards; Rothenberg scored her eighth career homer. Short stop Fujita and second baseman Marley Felder ’22 each singled in a run, then with bases-loaded, Rothenberg drew a walk to give Brandeis a 4-2 lead. Madeline Gorey ’25 also played a great game from the circle, allowing nine hits and three earned runs in their seven-inning complete game; the lefty first year pitcher struck out two and walked one, allowing one home run.
In the Judges’ sweep against Whittier College, the softball squad rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning of a three-two win in Game One of a doubleheader, then earned a pair of home runs from Rothenburg to provide all of the offense in a 5-2 Game Two victory. After a scoreless first four innings, Felder hit a two-out single and stole second. Rothenberg then followed suit, hitting the ball to centerfield for her second home run this season; she then provided another home run for the Judges in the seventh, her third of the season, and 10th of her career, while also marking her first career two-homer game and a career best of five RBI. In addition to Rothenberg’s two home runs, Felder had three hits and scored two runs, while Nash and Anderson each hit doubles.
After dropping the opener to the Redland Bulldogs, 5-2, the Judges picked up a 2-1 win in Game Two, improving their record to 6-2 and concluding their Cali trip. In the opener, the Judges were off to an impressive start, scoring twice in the top of the first inning when Haley Nash ‘25 delivered a two-run single run to left field, plating Fujita; this was Nash’s first homer of the season and the sixth of her career. Offensively, Rothenberg had another impressive showing in her fifth game of her final season at Brandeis where she went 3-for-4 with a double; Fujita added two hits and Nash drove in both Brandeis runs with her homer.
The second game of the day was a pitcher’s duel. Pitcher Sydney Goldman ’22 matched her opponent in the first four innings allowing one hit each, but the Judges gained momentum in the top of the fifth and never looked back. Fujita led off with a walk and moved to second one batter later on a single by senior Anderson. Catcher Kirsten Chandonnet got everyone involved when she singled home Balakrishna ’24, and RF Lily Medici ’23, plated 1B Jamie Pippin ’23 with a hit to center giving Brandeis a 2-0 lead. In the split victory over the University of Redlands, Goldman tossed her 27th career complete game to earn her first win of the season; she allowed three hits and one earned run. With 10 strikeouts on the game, Goldman reached double figures for the ninth time in her career. Throwing 118 pitches, Goldman totaled 71 strikes and walked two.
The Judges concluded their February Break trip to California six-two, and many members of the softball squad stepped up big, both on the offensive and defensive ends. Graduate student and center fielder Melissa Rothenberg, though, was recognized as the UAA Softball Hitter of the week, as she successfully paced the 22nd-ranked Judges along the West Coast. She batted 0.448 with an 0.467 on base-percentage and .862 slugging percentage. Rothenberg additionally drove in 10 runs and scored five, as she hit three doubles and three home runs. She had career highs – 2 HR and 5 RBI; and Rothenberg was perfect in center field in nine total chances.
Brandeis softball squad returns to action back in New England on March 20, with a doubleheader at Simmons College at noon.
