Last Thursday, the softball team handily defeated Lasell College in a doubleheader. Brandeis cruised to a 9-0 victory in the first game and held on to win 9-6 in the second. Brandeis' record on the season is now 11-12 after the team split a doubleheader against Wellesley College last Wednesday.In the top of the fourth inning of its first game against Lasell, Brandeis scored six runs on seven hits, including five doubles, to pull away from the Lasers. Shortstop Brittany Grimm '12, outfielder Samantha Gajewski '12 and first baseman Courtney Kelley '11 all doubled to start the inning. After third baseman Danielle Lavallee '11 walked, outfielder Lauren Porcaro '12 doubled to center field and drove in two more runs. Marianne Specker '12 hit a fifth double for Brandeis later in the inning, and outfielder Carly Schmand finished off the inning with a single to drive in Specker.

Brandeis added even more insurance in the sixth inning. With one out, Specker and Schmand both singled. Leah McWilliams '14 pinch ran for Specker and was driven home by a Grimm single. Gajewski then doubled down the right field line, bringing home Schmand. Gajewski scored later in the inning on a passed ball, and with the Lasell bats unable to find any rhythm, Brandeis took the victory, 9-0.

Pitcher Melissa Nolan '14 was brilliant in her five innings of work, surrendering no runs on three hits while striking out eight batters. She earned her sixth win of the year.

Despite the weather turning foul, the Brandeis offense stayed hot for the second game against Lasell. The Judges scored two runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Grimm and an RBI double from Gajewski. In the second, Porcaro singled home first baseman Megan DeNubila '12 and Specker doubled to right field, scoring Porcaro and putting the Judges up by four. Grimm singled home Schmand later in the inning, pushing Brandeis' lead to five.

Lasell battled back, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the Judges' lead to one run. However, Brandeis cemented the win in the top of the seventh.With Specker and Schmand on second and third, a wild pitch allowed Specker to score and Grimm doubled Schmand in. Kelley added a single to left field, scoring Grimm. Kelley then advanced to second on a wild pitch, and DeNubila and Miller, who pinch hit for Hirschler, both walked to load the bases. However, Brandeis was unable to take advantage of the opportunity, as the Lasers got two outs to keep the gap at four runs. In the bottom of the seventh, Lasell scored one run, but was unable to claw back from their four-run deficit.

Last Wednesday, Brandeis had a doubleheader against Wellesley and split the two-game series. Brandeis won the first game 8-6 and dropped the second 2-1. Pitcher Casey Ducinski '13 was impressed by the team's effort despite strong winds and rain. "The team overall stepped up hitting, especially considering the conditions," she said.

In the first game, Brandeis scored in all but two of the innings, yet still headed into the seventh inning trailing by a run. Grimm walked to start the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and reached third base on a passed ball. Kelley walked and Miller pinch ran for her and subsequently stole second. Outfielder Maxie Hirschler '12 then smacked a double into left field to plate Grimm and Miller and give Brandeis a lead it would never relinquish.

In the second game, Brandeis trailed 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Gajewski doubled to left center with two outs, and, after a Kelley walk, Hirschler singled to right field to score Gajewski and tie the game. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Wellesley Blue were able to retake the lead, this time for good. After Nolan struck out the first two batters in the inning, a fielding error permitted senior outfielder Megan Townsend to reach base. Senior outfielder Brittany Bakacs then doubled her home, giving Wellesley the win.

The three victories came after a the Judges came from seven runs down 2 weeks ago to defeat Salem State University 8-7. Ducinski said that the team, which started slowly this season, viewed the game as a turning point. "The game [against Salem State] was a turning point," she said. "We came from behind against Salem State and that was the perfect time for us to realize that we have the heart to come from behind and since then we've had a lot more confidence. ... That should be helpful going forward the rest of the season."

The softball team will play a doubleheader at Suffolk University tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.



-Jeffrey Boxer contributed reporting.