Softball Splits Two with Brandeis
Framingham, MA - The Framingham State College softball team split a doubleheader at home today against Brandeis University, losing the first game 14-6 in five innings and winning the second 5-2. The win in the second game was the 100th in the career of Framingham State College's sixth year head coach Rich Paulhus. Paulhus is the all-time winningest coach in Framingham State College softball history and is the first softball coach to reach the 100 win milestone with the Rams.
Brandeis University softball's season winning streak was snapped at 23 games with the Rams win in game two. The 2008 softball team is now tied with the 1979 Brandeis baseball team for a University record for consecutive victories. The Judges are now 29-8-1 on the season and have tied the 1999 team which also won a program record 29 games.
In game one, the Judges offense exploded for 14 runs on 15 hits and capitalized on the Rams fielding woes. The Rams (14-21) committed four errors in the game which led to five unearned runs for Brandeis. Senior Kate Streilein was 4-for-4 from the plate in game one with three runs scored and two RBIs, while fellow senior Natalie Volpe was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Danielle Lavallee and Chelsea Korp had two hits apiece. Lavallee also drove in four runs. Emily Vaillette picked up the win for Brandeis as she went five innings allowing six runs on six hits while striking out five.
In the second game, the Judges took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Korp singled thru the left side and drove in Allie Mussen. The Rams answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the third as Sara Mulkeen doubled in a run and after a run scored on a Brandeis error sophomore Kelsey Curley cleared the bases with a two RBI double to center. That was all junior starter Katelyn Pacheco would need as she went 5+ innings allowing two earned runs on seven hits before turning the ball over to senior Kelly Knox who picked up the save and allowed one hit over the final two innings.
The Rams return to action on Saturday as the square off against conference foe Worcester State at Worcester at noon with a birth in the conference tournament at stake, while the Judges face Fitchburg State tomorrow afternoon.