The softball team played eight games against University Athletic Association opponents last week, going 3-5 in that span. The squad struggled early on during their time in Altamonte Springs, Fla., losing both of their first two consecutive games and five of their first six games, but finished the week with two wins to end the week with a record of 7-6.

The team squared off against Case Western Reserve University on last Saturday in the teams' second matchup of the week, following a 10-2 Case victory on Wednesday.  
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However, the Judges didn't let the bad memories of the earlier encounter hang over them, as they erupted for a six-run third inning on the way to an 8-5 win over the Spartans. Second baseman Danielle Novotny '16 was the star of the day, as she went three-for-four at the plate with three runs batted in for the team.
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Last Friday, the Judges eked out a one-run victory over  the University of Rochester YellowJackets for the second time that week. Earlier in the week, it was a much higher scoring affair, resulting in a 7-6 Judges win. 
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This time, however, the Judges were only able to put one run on the board. However, a strong performance from starting pitcher Casey Ducinski '13, made sure that the one run was enough for the Judges to emerge with the victory. Ducinski pitched a one-hit shutout, and recorded three strikeouts in the win.
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The Judges also took on the Bears from Washington University in St. Louis last Friday, and the Judges' offense had a strong outing, scoring seven runs. 
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It looked like that total would be enough for the win, until the top of the seventh inning. The Bears took the lead from the Judges, posting a seven-run total in the seventh to make it an 11-7 ballgame. 
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WashU junior catcher Stacy Berg, who played for the Judges as a first-year at Brandeis in 2010, was the difference in the game. She hit three home runs and recorded four RBIs in four at-bats. 
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The squad suffered a tough loss against No. 2 Emory University last Thursday. Emory freshman pitcher Sydney Carpenter and Ducinski dominated the opposing sides in the first four innings on the mound, allowing no runs during that time. Eagles' junior right fielder Ally Kersthold broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth with a home run off Ducinski, and the Judges were unable to respond in the following inning, consigning them to a grueling defeat.
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Brandeis met Case Western for the first time during the week on Wednesday, falling by a score of 10-2 in a game where cold bats proved problematic for the team. The Judges were only able to record five hits on the day, while the Spartans combined for 17. Left fielder Anya Kamber '15 was the main offensive source for the Judges in the defeat, as she drove home both runs with two hits in three at-bats. 
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Brandeis secured its first victory over Rochester by a score of 7-6 last  Wednesday. The YellowJackets led 5-4 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but cost themselves the game following two defensive errors in that inning. 
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Center fielder Amanda Genovese '15 stole two bases in the inning and totaled three stolen bases over the course of the game. She is currently ranked second in the nation with 1.6 stolen bases per game, which only ranks behind senior infielder Jenny Hess of the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.
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The Judges were blown out by WashU last Tuesday, losing 14-6 in only five innings. 
Defense was the difference in the game, as the Bears committed no errors throughout the game, whereas the Judges' seven errors led to nine Bears' runs. 
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The Judges had to shake off some of the rust in their first game against Emory last Tuesday, and it was another five-inning game for the Judges, as they ended up on the losing side by a score of 16-7. 
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However, if it weren't for allowing a plethora of hits in the early stages of the game, it might have been a completely different story for the Judges. 
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The Eagles combined for 12 runs in the first two innings, which proved to be more than enough to secure the win. The largest source of Emory's scoring came from freshman third baseman Hannah Sendel, who drove in five runs. Things were about to get worse for Brandeis, though. After the Judges decided to walk freshman catcher Melody Carter in order to load the bases, her classmate, Sendel, made the Judges pay by blasting a grand slam.
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The tactical move ultimately backfired for the Judges. 
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Members of the softball team could not be reached for comment by press time.
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Despite the taxing nature of the trip, the softball team cannot afford to rest on its laurels, as it begins the portion of its schedule when it will play solely in Massachusetts. Brandeis returns to action this Saturday, as they welcome the Salem State University Vikings for a doubleheader at Marcus Field.