Gen Brittingham and Kendall Smith (pictured) hit back-to-back home runs in game two (Robert Oliver).
Gen Brittingham and Kendall Smith (pictured) hit back-to-back home runs in game two (Robert Oliver).

Wellesley Softball Drops Two Games In Non-Conference Play at Brandeis

WALTHAM, Mass. – Wellesley College softball came-up short in both ends of a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Brandeis University. The host Judges took game one, 9-2, before holding off Wellesley, 4-3, in game two. Brandeis is now 8-14 on the season, while Wellesley falls to 7-20.

Brandeis 9, Wellesley 2  

The Blue loaded the bases in the top of the first inning but only managed one run on a Brandeis error. The Judges responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning before going on to add six more for the 9-2 win.

Junior Marissa DeLaurentis (Centereach, N.Y.) got the Brandeis offense started in the bottom of the first by lacing a double into the left centerfield gap to score Keri Lehtonen (Oneco, Conn.). Amanda Shore (San Jose, Calif.) then brought DeLaurentis around with a single back up the middle, before Scottie Todd (Tampa, Fla.) singled to drive home Shore and make the score 3-1. 

The Judges extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third when they added a run on a Bridget Cifuni (Georgetown, Mass.) sacrifice fly. The Blue got the run back in the top of the fourth, scoring when senior Julia Warner (Kenmore, Wash.) doubled to score Lucy Cheskin (Mountain View, Calif.) after the Blue first year singled and stole second with two outs. 

Wellesley would get no closer, as Brandeis scored three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth. The Judges took advantage of two Blue errors in the fifth and Shore homered as part of the two-run sixth inning, as she ended the day 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two RBIs, and three runs scored.

Warner was 1-for-3 at the dish with an RBI but also picked up the loss in the circle (5-8), pitching two innings while giving-up six runs and three hits. Todd went the distance for the hosts, striking out three over seven innings of work to improve to 4-5 on the season. 

Brandeis 4, Wellesley 3

Brandeis sophomore Brianna Urena (Somerset, Mass.) hit a go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the Judges to a 4-3 victory in the nightcap. 

Urena finished the contest 1-for-3 with an RBI, while DeLaurentis added two RBIs with a two-run home run in the second and Shore homered for the second straight game to lead the Judges. Wellesley first year Gen Brittingham (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) finished the contest 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a home run, and a run scored to lead the Blue.

Brittingham got the Blue on the board in the top of the first, scoring Amanda Manning (Chico, Calif.) from third with a single up the middle. The Blue held on to the lead until the bottom of the second when DeLaurentis hit a two-run homer to left. Shore homered with one out in the top of the third inning to increase the Brandeis lead to 3-1. However, the Blue powered back into the game in the top of the sixth with a pair of home runs of their own. 

Sophomore Kendall Smith (Turlock, Calif.) opened the inning with a home run to centerfield. The next batter, Brittingham, then launched a solo shot to left, as the Blue went back-to-back to knot the score at 3-3.

Unfortunately, the rally was short lived, with Brandeis scoring the eventual game winning run in the bottom half of the inning. With one away, Taylor Simala (Wellsburg, W.Va.) doubled to right. Urena then followed with a double of her own, ripping the ball down the left field line to score Simala and put the Judges back ahead, 4-3. Simala finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Sophomore Callie MacDonald (Hanover, Mass.) allowed one hit and one walk over 2.0 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win (3-8). Warner went the distance for the Blue in game two, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk to fall to 5-9. 

Both teams are in action on Friday, April 20. Wellesley will host WPI at 3:00 PM and Brandeis will travel to NYU for a 4:00 PM start.