ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Brandeis University softball team opener their 2022 University Athletic Association campaign today with a 5-3 loss on the road at Washington University in St. Louis. With the loss, the Judges fall to 8-5 overall, 0-1 in the UAA. The Bears improve to 13-4, 1-0 UAA.
After three scoreless innings, both offenses broke through in the fourth. In the top of the frame grad students Melissa Rothenberg (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) and Jolie Fujita (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) each singled, with Fujita advancing to second on the throw to try to get Rothenberg at third. Junior 1B Jamie Pippin (Redmond, Wash. / Lake Washington) followed with a double to left field that gave the Judges a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the frame, the Bears got two runners into scoring position without a hit thanks to an error, a bunt, a walk and a passed ball against Brandeis senior starter Sydney Goldman (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame). WashU RF Eimear Cunningham delivered a high fly that dropped in for a double, but only one run scored as the runners waited to see if the ball was caught. With the Judges still ahead, 2-1, but runners in scoring position, Brandeis coach Dani Bishop went to the bullpen, calling on sophomore Alex Cohen (West Palm Beach, Fla./The Benjamin School). Unfortunately, Cohen was greeted by Bear catcher Payton Irwin, who blasted a three-run home run to center field giving the hosts a 4-2 lead. The Bears added another run with a solo homer from Maggie Baumstark in the fifth.
WashU starter Hayley Stone retired six Brandeis batters in order in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Judges threatened in the seventh when Fujita led off with a double. She came around to score two batters later on a liner by senior Amidori Anderson (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs) that produced the final score, but Stone got a fly out to center to end the game.
Fujita was Brandeis's top player, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Pippin was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Goldman suffered the loss, falling to 1-2 on the season. She allowed three hits and three runs (two earned) over 3.1 innings of work. Goldman struck out two and walked two. Cohen allowed two hits and two earned runs over 2.2 innings of work, with three strikeouts.
WashU did not have a multiple hitter, but four of their five hits went for extra bases: doubles by Cunningham and Nicole Hay and the Irwin and Baumstark homers. Stoner improved to 6-1 on the season with seven innings of five-hit pitching. She allowed three earned runs and struck out three without walking a batter. Stoner threw 68 of her 100 pitches for strikes.
Brandeis and Washington University will continue their four-game UAA series, the first conference series since 2019, with a doubleheader tomorrow at 1 p.m. Eastern/12 noon Central.