PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Brandeis University softball team bounced back from its second loss of the season today with a 3-2 University Athletic Association win over Carnegie Mellon today. The Judges improve to 23-2-1 with the win, 8-2 UAA, while the Tartans fall to 10-20, 3-11 UAA.
For the second-straight game, Carnegie Mellon got on the board with two runs in the first inning. After a walk and an infield single with an errant throw put runners in scoring position with none out, the Tartans brought both runners home on sacrifice flies by DP Io Jette-Kouri and 3B Piper Johnson.
Brandeis answered back in the top of the fourth. CMU starter Scottie McGee, who didn't allow a hit until the seventh inning yesterday, gave up a leadoff single to Judge rookie 3B Marley Felder (Miami, Fla./American Heritage School). One batter later, sophomore SS Jolie Fujita (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) followed with a hit to left. McGee got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, but Brandeis rookie starter Sydney Goldman (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame) doubled down the left field line to get the Judges on the board. Senior LF Marissa DeLaurentis (Centereach, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) followed with a hit to third base to knot the score at 2-all.
Goldman and McGee each worked around base runners in the next three innings, but it wasn't until the top of the seventh that the Judges broke the deadlock. Senior catcher Keri Lehtonen (Oneco, Conn./Plainfield) led off with a double to right-center field. Felder bunted her to second and DP Scottie Todd (Tampa, Fla./Strawberry Crest) drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Fujita followed with a squeeze bunt, and though it was popped in the air, neither the CMU pitcher or third baseman called it, allowing the ball to fall in for a hit as Lehtonen crossed the plate. McGee got the next two outs to keep it a one-run deficit.
CMU threatened in the bottom of the seventh, as 1B Audrey Peterson singled to lead off. Goldman got the next two outs on fly balls, but LF Emily Song beat out a throw on a hit to short, and the two runners advanced to second on third when the ball got away. Goldman was able to leave them there, however, inducing a grounder to second to end the game.
Goldman improved to a perfect 11-0 on the season with her 11th complete game of the season. She gave up six hits and two earned runs, striking out five and walking two. McGee, who handed the Judges just their second loss of the season yesterday, fell to 6-8, giving up three earned runs on eight hits. She struck out five and walked five.
The second game of today's doubleheader was suspended in the bottom of the first inning after a lightning and rain delay. The scoreless contest will be resumed starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow and will be followed by the final game of the series.