Spring Break
SOFTBALL: Squad keeps winning streak alive
by Julie Ganz
Sports editor
Sports | 4/15/08
Posted online at 2:49 AM EST on 4/15/08
With no balls, two strikes and two outs in the final inning of the second game of a doubleheader against Salve Regina University last Saturday, relief pitcher Natalie Volpe '08 was on the verge of giving the softball team its longest winning streak in 24 years. On the next pitch, Volpe struck out junior pinch hitter Amaran Garbisch swinging to complete the Judges' 3-0 victory.
"Pitching did a heck of a job [last Saturday], and the bats came through at the right time," coach Jessica Johnson said.
The win, which came after the Judges earned a 1-0 victory in the first game, was Brandeis' 10th straight, tying the school record set during the 1984 season. The team is now 16-7-1 this season, including two shutout victories at the University of Massachusetts at Boston last Thursday, a pair of wins against Suffolk University last Wednesday and victories against Trinity College and Lasell College last Tuesday.
Today's doubleheader against Amherst College, postponed due to rain last Friday, ended too late for this edition.
Seahawks rookie pitcher Nicole Whitney retired the first 10 Brandeis batters in the second game, but after catcher Erin Ross '10 doubled in the fourth inning, pitcher Kate Streilein '08 sent her home with another double to right-center field that gave the Judges the 1-0 lead. Streilein advanced to third base on an error by Whitney, and Volpe bunted Streilein home for the second run.
"I'm probably one of the slowest people on our team, so I don't really bunt often unless it is in a suicide situation," Volpe said. "But I have no problem bunting and getting that run in, because it's a huge run for us."
After third baseman Danielle Lavallee '11 moved Volpe to second on a groundout, left fielder Samantha Worth '09 hit an RBI single to right field to increase Brandeis' lead to 3-0.
Starting for the second straight game, Streilein allowed just three hits in five innings, and only one Salve Regina runner even reached second base. She hurled 12 shutout innings over the two games, improving her record to 9-3 this season.
"Pitching did a heck of a job [last Saturday], and the bats came through at the right time," coach Jessica Johnson said.
The win, which came after the Judges earned a 1-0 victory in the first game, was Brandeis' 10th straight, tying the school record set during the 1984 season. The team is now 16-7-1 this season, including two shutout victories at the University of Massachusetts at Boston last Thursday, a pair of wins against Suffolk University last Wednesday and victories against Trinity College and Lasell College last Tuesday.
Today's doubleheader against Amherst College, postponed due to rain last Friday, ended too late for this edition.
Seahawks rookie pitcher Nicole Whitney retired the first 10 Brandeis batters in the second game, but after catcher Erin Ross '10 doubled in the fourth inning, pitcher Kate Streilein '08 sent her home with another double to right-center field that gave the Judges the 1-0 lead. Streilein advanced to third base on an error by Whitney, and Volpe bunted Streilein home for the second run.
"I'm probably one of the slowest people on our team, so I don't really bunt often unless it is in a suicide situation," Volpe said. "But I have no problem bunting and getting that run in, because it's a huge run for us."
After third baseman Danielle Lavallee '11 moved Volpe to second on a groundout, left fielder Samantha Worth '09 hit an RBI single to right field to increase Brandeis' lead to 3-0.
Starting for the second straight game, Streilein allowed just three hits in five innings, and only one Salve Regina runner even reached second base. She hurled 12 shutout innings over the two games, improving her record to 9-3 this season.
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