Blue Softball Drops Game One To Brandeis, Tie 7-7 in Game Two

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College softball dropped game one of a non-conference doubleheader to Brandeis University, 4-2, before the teams tied 7-7 in eight innings in game two on Wednesday at the Wellesley Fields Complex.

Brandeis remains undefeated on the season at 11-0-1, dropping the Blue to 5-7-1 with Wednesday's result. Game two will end as a tie and will not be completed at a later date.

Game 1 | Brandeis 4, Wellesley 2 | Final

Wellesley erased a two-run deficit in the bottom of the third inning only to see Brandeis rally to score in the fifth and sixth innings in a 4-2 game one victory.

Sophomore Jolie Fujita (Honolulu, Hawaii) finished 3-for-4 to lead the Judges. First year Amidori Anderson (Sparks, Nev.) was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while junior PJ Ross (Kingston, N.H.) scored a run and finished with two hits. Junior Scottie Todd (Tampa, Fla.) only surrendered one-run over seven innings to improve to 6-0 on the season.

First year Marisa Hensch (Carlsbad, Calif.) and sophomore Gen Brittingham (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) each went 2-for-4 to lead the Blue. Hensch added an RBI and scored a run. Senior Sydney Hopper (Newcastle, Wash.) pitched a complete game, striking out four and walking three in the setback (3-5).

Brandeis opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second. The Judges loaded the bases with one out to start the rally, scoring when Anderson singled up the middle to drive Ross home from third. Ross then helped Brandeis take a 2-0 lead in the third, driving home sophomore Bridget Cifuni (Georgetown, Mass.) with an infield single.

The Blue got both runs back in the bottom of the third. Junior Kendall Smith (Turlock, Calif.) doubled to leadoff the inning, moving to third on a sacrifice bunt. Hensch got the Blue on the board with a single through the left side. The next batter, Brittingham, ripped a single to right. The Blue loaded the bases when Autumn Brown (Marshfield, Mass.) reached on an error but were only able to tie the game when senior Kalei Oliver (Vista, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice.

Following a scoreless fourth, Brandeis took the lead back when Cifuni took home on an errant throw after a steal of third. The Judges added some insurance in the sixth, taking a 4-2 lead when Anderson singled to drive in Marysa Massoia (Feeding Hills, Mass.) after the senior replaced Todd on second following her leadoff double. Todd worked around a single in the sixth and pitches a perfect seventh to secure the 4-2 win. 

Game 2 | Brandeis 7, Wellesley 7 | Final - 8 innings 

The Blue and the Judges matched each other in an entertaining back-and-forth contest that ended in a 7-7 tie in eight innings when darkness made it too difficult to continue in game two.

Ross and Fujita combined for a run in the top of the first in game two, giving the Judges the early advantage when Ross doubled to left to score Fujita after Fujita singled to start the game. The Blue immediately answered in the home half of the frame, as Brittingham picked up her team-leading 15th RBI of the season with a single to right that scored Smith.

Wellesley jumped ahead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs on three hits and a Brandeis error. First year Holly Chin (Newton, Mass.) opened the inning with a walk and came around to score on an error. With one away, Hensch walked and Brittingham singled, before junior Autumn Brown (Marshfield, Mass.)  singled to drive home Hensch. The next batter, Oliver delivered with a two-run single to center, scoring Brittingham and Brown to make the score 5-1. 

Senior Keri Lehtonen (Oneco, Conn.) reached on an error to start the Brandeis fourth. The Judges would go on to score four runs on four hits to tie the game at 5-5.

First year Marley Felder (Miami, Fla.) singled to score Lehtonen. Senior Marissa DeLaurentis (Centereach, N.Y.) and Fujita followed with RBI hits before junior Brianna Urena (Somerset, Mass.) tied the game with a two-RBI double to left. Brittingham saved a run in the inning, cutting down a runner at home on Fujita's base hit.

The game moved to extras with the score tied 5-5. Each team took advantage of the runner placed on second in the extra frame. Brandeis loaded the bases, scoring two runs on two hits, including an RBI single from start Sydney Goldman (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), but left three on with a 7-5 lead at the end of the top half. The Blue tied the score in the home half, scoring on an RBI groundout from Brown and tying the contest on an Oliver RBI single to right. With the Blue unable to add the winning run, the game was called for darkness with the scored tied 7-7.

Wellesley will return to New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play when the Blue travel to Wheaton on Friday, April 5, at 3:00 PM. Brandeis will travel to NYU for a four-game set on Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6.

NCAA Division III Week is an annual week-long celebration of Division III student-athletes and the impact they have on Division III campuses and in their surrounding communities. This year, NCAA Division III Week begins on Monday, April 1 and continues until Sunday, April 7. For more information, visit wellesleyblue.com/x/80miv.