After a tough conference tournament, the softball team looked to rebound in a less competitive non-conference schedule. They moved a step in the right direction last weekend, splitting two doubleheaders against Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Salem State University.

Last Friday, the Judges faced WPI in their first doubleheader of the season. Brandeis won the first game, 2-1 in a drawn-out pitcher's duel, before losing in a 13-12 slugfest later that day.

Brandeis came out swinging in the first inning of its home opener, scoring twice in the first inning. Utility infielder Amanda Genovese '15 singled to center field to start the game. Infielder Brittany Grimm '12 added a triple to the right-field corner, while utility infielder Marianne Specker '12 drove Grimm in for what proved to be the game-winning run.

The bats went silent afterward, but the team had no reason to worry. Starting pitcher Caroline Miller '12 did the rest for the Judges, allowing only five hits and one earned run, leading to the final 2-1 score. She earned her third complete game of the 2012 season and the 14th of her career.

During the night game, WPI exploded early, bringing twelve hitters to the plate and scoring eight times against pitcher Nikki Cote '15. Brandeis scored three runs of its own at the bottom of the first inning to keep the game within reach.

Once again, though, WPI pulled ahead and led 12-4 in the fifth inning. Yet, the Judges still had life left in them. In the bottom of the sixth inning, 10 Brandeis hitters came to the plate. The action started with singles by Miller and utility infielder Leah McWilliams '14. Grimm drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly, which advanced the two other runners. Specker, outfielder Lauren Porcaro '12, Cote, and pitcher Casey Ducinski '13 all delivered RBI hits to trim the WPI lead to 13-12. The Judges, however, did not produce that elusive final run.

Genovese stated that it took a little while for the Judges to start clicking, but the offensive firepower at the end made for an encouraging result.

"It started off a little rough, and nobody was communicating, and nobody was hitting, but then we definitely started working together," Genovese said.

Specker was the offensive star for Brandeis, going 3-for-4. Porcaro and Genovese also did well at the plate, hitting 2-for-4 and 2-for-3, respectively.

In the matinee against Salem State, Miller pitched a solid game to carry Brandeis to an 11-6 win in extra innings.

In the top of the third, Genovese singled to help break a 2-2 draw. Then in the sixth inning, Brandeis once again erased a 4-3 deficit on a RBI triple from Miller. The game remained tied until the 11th inning, as Brandeis scored five times to take an 11-6 lead.

Grimm had a strong day at the plate, going 4-6 with three RBIs.

In the nightcap, the Judges could not secure the result until the final inning. In the opening frame, Grimm doubled and scored on a RBI single from third baseman Anya Kamber '15.

The Vikings jumped ahead in subsequent innings, but Brandeis drew to within one in the third inning after a triple from Porcaro and a sacrifice fly from second baseman Megan DeNubila '14. Brandeis once again rallied in the top of the 6th. After three singles loaded the bases, Specker hit a two-run single to tie the game at 4-4. The valiant comeback would not prove to be enough, as Salem State eventually won 5-4.

Brandeis was paced on the offensive end by Kamber, who went 3-for-4 in the game.

Though the season has just begun, Genovese noted the team has been performing well and can only do better in the weeks to come.

"I think we are very talented. ... I'm excited to see what everybody can do," she said.

Brandeis has back-to-back games at home against Emerson College and then against Lesley University, which begin at 3:00 p.m. today.

*