Facing the prospect of another home loss, the Judges scored four runs in the third inning en route to a 6-2 win over St. Joseph's College of Maine on Sunday. The Judges split their doubleheader with St. Joseph's, bringing their record to 6-17 for the season. But the win was one of only a few highlights for the Judges, as Brandeis lost five of the nine games they played last week. Brandeis played Suffolk University on Monday in a game that ended too late for this edition.

The Judges were down early in the second game with St. Joseph's, but Kaitlin Streilein '08 hit a three-run home run in the third inning, giving Brandeis a lead it would hold for the remainder of the game. Both Streilein and Jenna Olem '08 were perfect from the plate in three at-bats to lead the Judges.

"We were thirsty for a win and we did it," leftfielder Marissa Rubin '07 said. "Out by out, hit by hit, we dominated that second game."

But in the first game against St. Joseph's, the Judges connected for only three hits on their way to a 5-2 loss.

"The first game, we came out hitting and were ahead," Rubin said. "However, we gave up hits and made a few errors that cost us the game."

Brandeis also lost both games of a doubleheader Saturday at Clark University. The Judges were hurt by poor pitching and inconsistent hitting, as Bri Smith '06 gave up seven runs in the first two innings on the way to a 10-5 loss in the first game. The Judges scored only one unearned run in the nightcap as Clark completed the sweep with a 3-1 victory.

"We were just hitting right to people and couldn't get any more runs," Danielle Mayer '08 said. "The other team was hitting well and into gaps and we couldn't hit into holes at all."

The Judges showed some prowess on the mound while sweeping their doubleheader last Friday against Framingham State College, 4-3 and 3-2. Natalie Volpe '08 allowed only one earned run in seven innings in the first game for her first collegiate victory.

Smith smacked a clutch double to tie the game at three runs in the seventh inning before Streilein, three at-bats later, singled to send Smith home for the game-winning run. In the second game, Streilein allowed only five hits in a complete game.

The Judges shut out the University of Massachusetts at Boston 4-0 at home last Thursday. Mayer was stellar on the mound, allowing only four hits in seven innings, while Smith batted 2-2 with one RBI.

Mayer's shutout came on the heels of an 8-0 rout by Emerson College on Wednesday and a 5-4 loss to Fitchburg State College on Tuesday. Streilein was the only player with a hit against Emerson, while Mari Levine '06 was 2-3 against Fitchburg.

"Our pitching is solid, and we are finally getting it done at the plate and coming together," Rubin said. "We are slowly turning our record around. There is a lot more softball this season and we plan on winning many more games."

The Judges take on Bay Path College today at home at 4 p.m.