The Cardinal softball team had another nonconference doubleheader over the weekend, hosting regional rival and perennial powerhouse Brandeis College on Saturday. The Cards found themselves down only 2-0 to the Judges in the seventh inning of the first game, but Brandeis scored six times in the inning for a comfortable 8-0 win. The second game also went the Judges’ way, as Brandeis jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back en route to a 17-4 win. Wesleyan now holds a 15-12-1 record on the season and remains 4-2 in NESCAC West play.
On Saturday, amidst tempermental weather, including one ten-minute period of hail, Wesleyan suffered an 8-0 shutout at the hands of Brandeis despite racking up six hits, two from Taylor Zavadsky ’10. Starting pitcher Meaghan Dendy ’10 pitched outstandingly throughout the first six innings, giving up only three hits and two runs, but it all fell apart in the seventh, when she gave up five hits and six runs, while only recording one out. The second game of the doubleheader did not proceed much better. The Judges came out on fire, accumulating an incredible eleven hits and scoring thirteen runs, all in the first inning. The Cardinals did not answer back, unable to pick up any runs or hits in the bottom of the first.
Despite their offensive dominance in the first inning, Brandeis refused to let up, scoring three more runs off of five hits in the top of the second to take an impressive 16-0 lead. Wes finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third with four runs, scored by Tori Redding ’13, Zavadsky, Chrissy Bello ’12, and Alexis Kral ’12 after they all hit their way onto base. The Cards held the Judges to only one more run in the top of the fourth, and looked to continue their attack in the bottom of the inning. But Brandeis did not allow Wes to gain any momentum, quickly and quietly striking out all three Wes batters. The game was called after five innings, thanks to the NCAA softball mercy rule, giving Brandeis the 17-4 victory. Starting pitcher Caitlyn Grudzinski ’13 took only her fourth loss of the season, compared with the freshman’s seven wins.
Wesleyan is now tied with Williams at 4-2 in the NESCAC West, sitting right behind first-place Middlebury (6-3). The Cardinals resume conference play this weekend, with three critical games against Little Three rival Amherst. Last year Wesleyan went 1-2 against the Lord Jeffs, a year after sweeping the season series against its Massachusetts foe. The squad will play at Amherst on Friday, looking to secure a victory in a single game, and will return to Middletown on Saturday for a doubleheader, with hopes of sweeping the Lord Jeffs once again as they continue their quest to be crowned West Division champions for the third straight season.
Leave a Reply