Softball drops season opener to Emory, 6-1

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- The Brandeis University softball team dropped its first contest of the season today, falling 6-1 to 15th-ranked Emory University in University Athletic Association (UAA) action.

Brandeis (0-1) fell behind early, as Emory (12-2) scored two runs on two hits in the first with senior 3B Sarah Morse hitting a sacrifice fly to open the scoring and sophomore C Rachel Blume drawing a bases-loaded walk to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. Morse added an RBI single in the third to increase the lead, but Brandeis junior pitcher Kaitlin Streilein (Point Pleasant, N.J.) escaped a bases-loaded jam without further damage.

The Judges got their only run of the game in the top of the third as junior 2B Danielle Mayer (Larkspur, Calif.) homered to center field, cutting the lead in half. Emory added two more runs in the bottom of the third, scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI single by rookie 2B Caitlin Fitzgerald and closed out the scoring on a Morse home run in the sixth.

In addition to Mayer's home run, the Judges managed just three other hits against Emory junior pitcher Ashley Tobar, as sophomore 3B Samantha Worth (Londonderry, N.H.) went 2-2, while Streilein managed the squad's other hit.

On the hill, Streilein gave up eight hits and six runs (four earned) in six innings of work, walking three and striking out three.

Emory was paced by Morse, who finished 2-3 with three RBI and the sacrifice fly. She was the Eagles' only multiple hitter.