The Justice

Media Credit: David Sheppard-Brick / the Justice EYE?ON?THE?BALL: A Judges' batter come to the plate during their 2-1 victory over Salem State?College?at home?Thursday. Brandeis finished with six wins in their last eight games and ended up with its second straight 20-win campaign.

The softball team sent out its graduating members in style Sunday, as its power hitting fueled a doubleheader sweep over visiting Colby College. The Judges belted a total of four home runs against the Mules, winning the first game 13-6 and the second contest 7-3.

The victories, which gave the Judges a 21-17 record this season, clinched the team's second straight 20-win season. Brandeis had only four 20-win seasons in the program's history.

"For the seniors and for most of the returning players, [clinching a 20-win season this year] was huge," first-year head coach Jessica Johnson said. "It's their team goal. We had our downs here and there, but we came up big when we needed to."

This also marked the culmination of the team's first season under Johnson, who replaced Mary Sullivan, Brandeis' coach of 32 years who was controversially fired in August and who filed an age-discrimination lawsuit against the university.

Marissa Rubin '07 hit a three-run home run in the first game, followed by a solo shot from rookie Chelsea Korp '10.

The back-to-back homers capped a nine-run third inning that included seven hits, giving the Judges an 11-0 lead.

"[My home run] was the icing on the cake," Rubin said. "It was the best way to go out."

The next shot came off the bat of another senior, Captain Christina McWilliams '07, in the bottom of a two-run fifth inning, providing more than enough support for winning pitcher Kaitlin Streilein '08, who improved to 5-5 on the season after surrendering six hits over seven innings of work.

"It was very emotional," McWilliams said. "It felt great to pull off two wins in our last home games."

In the second game, Streilein, who was once again moved from the third spot in the lineup back to leadoff slot Saturday, started the contest with her team-leading 11th home run.

Streilein, who has hit four home runs over the last eight games for the Judges, has shown more power than a typical leadoff hitter this season.

Continued...

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