The softball team seemed to be off to a strong start in its final game of the University Athletic Association Championships. Shortstop Brittany Grimm '12 executed a successful suicide bunt off University of Rochester pitcher Beth Ameno in the top of the first inning, scoring second baseman Melisa Cagar '11. However, the Judges faltered in the bottom of the first by giving up three runs and never recovered, eventually losing 17-2. The Judges competed in eight games at the UAA Championships in Altamonte Springs, Fla. from March 10 to March 14 and finished 3-5 on the week and drops to 3-7 overall.

"[Losing to Rochester] was disappointing because we had just beaten [Rochester] 3-2 earlier in the week, and we proved that we can play with them. Because we had beaten them once, we may have come into today's game thinking we could do it again without giving it much second thought thinking that we still have to play hard," Cagar said. "The pitcher we faced today pitched in a game earlier in the morning. We assumed that she would be tired, but we didn't take advantage of that and couldn't string hits together."

The Judges' only other run was an unearned run scored by catcher Erin Ross '10 in the fourth inning. Ross scored on an error by Rochester junior catcher Juliana Nicholson. Still, Brandeis could not recover from the Yellow Jackets' hot start.

"Once [Rochester] pushed three runs across the board in the first inning, it deflated us. The intensity was a little low, and Rochester just ran away with it," Cagar said.

Pitcher Emily Vaillette '10 allowed five runs in one-plus innings after allowing three runs in the first and two in the second before she was pulled for relief pitcher Caroline Miller '12.

"Vaillette also had a gutsy performance. She was hit under the ribs with a line drive in the [Washington University in St. Louis] game the day before, but she still competed hard against Rochester [last Saturday]," Cagar said.

The Judges were able to compete against the top teams in the nation, with a 3-2 win against No. 16 Rochester earlier in the week and 3-2 and 6-2 defeats to No. 6 Emory University, both losses occurring in the final innings of each game.

"We stayed right with Emory and Rochester for the majority of the games, but we can't continue to be a five-inning team," captain and outfielder Chelsea Korp '10 said.

Some of the players said the Judges were at a disadvantage because teams such as Emory had already competed in 16 games in Florida before Brandeis had arrived to Altamonte Springs.

"[We] did very well considering some of the teams had already played over a dozen games before we arrived," third baseman Danielle Lavallee '11 said, "We did well for the amount of time we spent on the field, but we know we can improve on our performances this week."

The week of the UAA Championships has historically been the toughest part of the Judges' schedule, as the UAA remains one of the strongest leagues in Division III. However, this season the Judges will face opponents such as No. 27 Wellesley College and No. 26 Rhode Island College when they return to New England.

Brandeis next plays a doubleheader at Wellesley College tomorrow at 3 p.m.