The Judges (0-8 UAA, 2-11) won their first and last games of the week, book-ending an otherwise disappointing five game series. After losing all eight games during their spring training in Florida, the team was looking to improve endurance and hitting. During last Thursday's home game, they did just that.
Brandeis secured its first win of the season against Suffolk University with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth by Jamie Kidd '04. Christine McWilliams '07 helped set the momentum with a RBI single in the second inning. Sarah Albert '04 and Melissa Leber '04 picked up the pace with lead off singles in the bottom of the sixth, setting up Kidd's grand slam. The Judges pulled through a tricky top of the sixth to beat Suffolk 8-5, with pitcher Brianne Smith '06 registering the win.
"It was our first game back from Florida so it was great to start with a win," captain Melissa Leber '04 said. "We had a great game offensively and defensively, it felt good to play up to our level."
While the team lost Friday's home game against Clark University 1-3, coach Mary Sullivan said was pleased with her team's effort.
"It was an outstanding game; just fantastic," Sullivan said. "It was one of the better games I've seen in a couple years."
After keeping the score tied one through six innings, Clark scored on a double in the seventh and the Judges were unable to pull back in the bottom of the inning. Leber hit a lead off single in the sixth, but was thrown out at third trying to tag up.
"[The game] was extremely frustrating," Leber said. "It's hard knowing you can win and yet you don't."
The doubleheader against Bates on Saturday was equally disappointing; the Judges dropped both games, 4-6 and 6-14. The Judges started out strong in the first game, with Mari Levine's '06 two run double in the first and Christina McWilliams' '07 first career home run in the bottom of the second. However, Bates came back with four runs in the top of the fifth to take the win.
The day's second game saw Bates pull ahead with seven runs in both the first and sixth innings, far outstripping the six runs Brandeis managed in the middle innings. Albert had a strong day going three for six with two RBIs in the two games.
Yesterday's game at UMass Boston turned things around with the Judges bringing home their second win of the season. Albert and Smith each hit two run home runs, helping Brandeis to a 8-5 win, the former going two for three and the latter pitching a five hitter. The team fought the bitter cold and biting winds to pull through the tough game, despite giving up three runs in the seventh.
"We need to go out and play all seven innings," Leber said.
"Once in a while they slack off in one inning," Sullivan said. "That can really hurt us We need to play up to our standards whether we're in the lead or behind."
Leber said that the team is looking to improve on the small things like keeping other teams from gaining extra bases.
"Ideally, I'd like us to make a post-season tournament," Leber said. "At this point that means we'll have to win the rest of our games, which we are capable of. We have to remember to not get frustrated and just play one hundred percent."
Up next for the Judges is an away game today against MIT. The Engineers are 2-7-1 and are led by Austin Zimmerman who is batting .389. MIT's ace is Megan Arp who is 2-4 with a 3.31 ERA. The Engineers wins this season are a 3-0 victory over Bowdoin College on March 22 and an 11-3 stomping of Thomas College on March 24. MIT is on a two game losing streak after dropping a doubleheader on Saturday to Springfield College 8-0 and 9-1.