Spring Break
SOFTBALL: Crafty Amherst pitching cools off sizzling Judges' lineup in doubleheader sweep
by Julie Ganz
Sports editor
Sports | 4/17/07
Posted online at 10:20 PM EST on 4/16/07
/ Last updated at 12:19 PM EST on 4/16/07
Amid a New England schedule that has been defined by upstart hitting, the softball team received a harsh reality check in a doubleheader at Amherst College Saturday, as the Judges fell by scores of 9-0 and 6-1. Brandeis managed just five hits over the two games, all of which were singles, and fell to 14-13 on the season.
Brandeis' home game against Emerson College Sunday was cancelled because of inclement weather.
"[The Amherst pitchers] moved the ball really well," first baseman Natalie Volpe '08 said. "We were kind of knocked off balance and we just couldn't recover in time."
The defeats came after the women began New England play with a solid 12-5 record, which included a six-game winning streak from March 29 to April 1. Every Brandeis batter mustered at least one hit or one walk during the streak.
"Everyone has been hitting the ball really well [in New England play]," second baseman Danielle Mayer '08 said. "Someone needs to set the tone for us. If one person gets a hit, then everyone will get a hit."
The Judges' lone run against Amherst came on an RBI single by outfielder Marissa Rubin '07 in the top of the fifth inning of the second game.
"We weren't stringing together our hits," Mayer said.
Brandeis' starting pitching also struggled in the doubleheader, as Allie Mussen '10 surrendered nine hits over four innings in the first game, followed by an 11-hit outing from Emily Vaillette '10 over six innings in the game.
The only 1-2-3 inning recorded by the Judges' pitchers came in the bottom of the sixth inning of the latter game.
After finishing last season with a 20-23 record and with at least 15 games remaining, weather permitting, the Judges are on pace to finish the season with more than 20 wins, a feat which they have claimed only once before.
"This year has been a lot better than past years," Volpe said. "We can attribute a lot of that to our new coaching. [Head Coach Jessica] Johnson has been great for us."
Brandeis' home game against Emerson College Sunday was cancelled because of inclement weather.
"[The Amherst pitchers] moved the ball really well," first baseman Natalie Volpe '08 said. "We were kind of knocked off balance and we just couldn't recover in time."
The defeats came after the women began New England play with a solid 12-5 record, which included a six-game winning streak from March 29 to April 1. Every Brandeis batter mustered at least one hit or one walk during the streak.
"Everyone has been hitting the ball really well [in New England play]," second baseman Danielle Mayer '08 said. "Someone needs to set the tone for us. If one person gets a hit, then everyone will get a hit."
The Judges' lone run against Amherst came on an RBI single by outfielder Marissa Rubin '07 in the top of the fifth inning of the second game.
"We weren't stringing together our hits," Mayer said.
Brandeis' starting pitching also struggled in the doubleheader, as Allie Mussen '10 surrendered nine hits over four innings in the first game, followed by an 11-hit outing from Emily Vaillette '10 over six innings in the game.
The only 1-2-3 inning recorded by the Judges' pitchers came in the bottom of the sixth inning of the latter game.
After finishing last season with a 20-23 record and with at least 15 games remaining, weather permitting, the Judges are on pace to finish the season with more than 20 wins, a feat which they have claimed only once before.
"This year has been a lot better than past years," Volpe said. "We can attribute a lot of that to our new coaching. [Head Coach Jessica] Johnson has been great for us."
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