Waltham, MA --- Brandeis and the Worcester State both split a series with identical 2-1 scores this afternoon in non-conference softball action today on Marcus Field. The Judges scored a pair of sixth-inning runs in the opener before sophomore Katie Roy (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) tossed a six-hitter in the nightcap for the Lancers.
The Lancers (19-14) plated an unearned run in the top of the third when senior Aimee Lamoureux (E. Brookfield, MA) reached on a dropped fly ball and sophomore Katie Storro (Leominster, MA) drove her in on an RBI ground-out with two men down.
Brandeis (21-13), who had left the bases juiced in the bottom of the third, finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth.
Sophomore Amanda Genovese (N. Haven, CT) singled up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice.
Freshman Danielle Novotny (Milford, NJ) then knotted up the score 1-1 by hammering a single to centerfield before she came around to score on a safety up the middle by second-year Ana Kamber (Sammamish, WA).
Brandeis junior Melissa Nolan (Windsor, CT), who had retired eight of her last 10 since the third, set down the side in order to preserve the win. Nolan (9-3) fanned six and allowed the lone unearned run to go with three base-knocks.
Freshman Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) shouldered the setback for the Blue and Gold in the complete-game effort. She allowed two earned runs on four hits in addition to one walk and one strikeout.
Genovese was 2-for-4 at the plate while freshman Amanda Pelletier (Leominster, MA) was 2-for-2 with a double to lead off the sixth inning.
In the nightcap, the Blue and Gold wasted little time to grab the 2-0 advantage in the top of the second. With some two-out magic, freshman Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) singled and junior Hillary Hart (Clinton, MA) was hit by the pitch to put runners on second and third.
After Terry scampered home on a misplayed fly ball by the right fielder, Lamoureux came through with a single to right to help give the Lancers some insurance.
Roy was stellar through her first three frames, but gave up a double to senior Casey Ducinski (Duxbury, MA) and a single to Novotny. Nolan drove in Ducinski on a ground-out, but Roy got out of the jam on a ground-out.
Roy tossed three more scoreless frames to earn the win and improve her record to 5-2 on the campaign. She struck out two and did not allow a walk.
Ducinski (7-6) absorbed the setback as she issued a pair of free passes and rung up two on strikes.
Novotny and freshman Jordan Buscetto (Old Lyme, CT) both chipped in with two base-knocks each for the Judges. Lamoureux went 2-for-4 in the win for the Lancers.
Both squads will play again at home at 12 PM on Saturday. Worcester State hosts Westfield State in a key matchup to determine the seeding in next week's MASCAC Tournament while Brandeis takes on Bowdoin.