After starting last week needing just one win to reach .500, the softball team is in an even deeper hole. The Judges fell to Fitchburg State College Tuesday and Framingham State University Wednesday before splitting a doubleheader with Clark University Saturday, dropping their record to 12-15. "It's tough because we want to have a winning record, but it was more frustrating that we couldn't pull off the wins," Natalie Volpe '08 said.

The team ended the week on a positive note, beating Clark 3-2 in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday. Brandeis methodically built its lead in the early innings. Leftfielder Marissa Rubin '07 scored on a passed ball in the third inning, captain Mari Levine '06 drove in fellow captain Brianne Smith '06 in the fourth, and Rubin scored again in the fifth inning on a double by Kaitlin Streilein '08. The Cougars rallied late for two runs off Volpe, but the Judges' ace stopped the comeback by striking out the last four Clark batters.

"I just kept telling myself I needed to keep my composure," Volpe said. "I knew I couldn't get too rattled up just because the other team was within reach of tying or winning."

Levine stressed how the Judges' win against Clark was a significant boost for the team's morale.

"To come back and win the second game . ends the week on a high note," Levine said. "We dropped a couple to teams we should have beaten and we realized that we just have to play well on both ends, offensively and defensively."

In the first game Saturday, the Judges fell 7-1 to the Cougars. Brandeis jumped to a quick 1-0 start but faded soon thereafter, as Clark answered swiftly with three runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth.

"We scored in the first inning and then we just let up at bat," Levine said.

All nine Clark batters recorded hits as Streilein took the loss, giving up 10 hits, seven earned runs with four walks and four strikeouts.

Before splitting with Clark, the Judges faced Framingham State on a rainy Friday afternoon in which the second game was cancelled.

Framingham jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning, and though the Judges answered with a run of their own in the third, they were unable to muster any scoring after that. Despite loading the bases with two outs in the six and seventh innings, the Judges could not bring any runners home. Volpe allowed just one earned run on five hits and struck out five batters while taking the loss.

"The weather was awful, so it was really hard to grip the ball," said Volpe, who pitched the game. "It was definitely not the best conditions for softball but we felt like we played well, but it was just unfortunate that the weather was bad."

In Thursday's home game against Fitchburg State College, the Judges led early after Streilein homered in a two run first inning. After falling behind, the Judges tied the game at three in the bottom of the fourth, but the Falcons seized a two-run lead in the fifth that they never relinquished. Danielle Mayer '08 suffered the loss on the mound, allowing seven runs and nine hits while striking out three.

The team is still looking to accomplish its goal of a .500 record with less than a month left in the season, and players say improving their offense is critical.

"When we score a couple runs we get really pumped and intense," Volpe said. "But when we don't hit we're upset about it and then we aren't as intense when we go back into the field."

The Judges head to Longmeadow, Mass. to take on Bay Path College today at 4 p.m, before returning home to face Amherst College on Saturday at 1 p.m.