Brandeis University Eliminates Softball From ECAC Division III Championship, 9-1

Box Score

WALTHAM, Mass. - The seventh-seeded Elms College softball team received an RBI double from senior pitcher Destinee Meeker (Bantam, Conn.) but No. 2 Brandeis University launched three home runs and used a five-run first inning to post a 9-1 mercy-rule victory and eliminate the Blazers from the 2011 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Championship softball tournament.

With the loss, Elms concludes its season 22-15 overall, while Brandeis (19-17) advances to semifinal action hosted by tournament top seed Keene State College.

In the bottom of the first frame, Brandeis' Marianne Specker (South Windsor, Conn.) and Britney Grimm (Perkiomenville, Pa.) both reached via an Elms miscue before Melissa Nolan (Windsor, Conn.) cleared the bases with a three-run shot to give the Judges a 3-0 lead. Maxie Hirchler (Bellmore, N.Y.) earned a walk and then scored when Samanatha Gajewski (Elkridge, Md.) delivered Brandeis' second homer of the frame to extend the lead to 5-0.

An RBI double by Grimm in the bottom of the second inning upped the Judges' lead to 6-0 before Elms responded with a run in the top of the fourth frame to cut the deficit to five at 6-1. Sophomore third baseman Rachel Butt (Agawam, Mass.) drew a leadoff walk and was pinch-run for by sophomore Jessica Cockshaw (Palmer, Mass.). Cockshaw stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and came full circle when Meeker drove an RBI double to left center to give the Blazers their first run of the game. Junior Amanda Alvarado (Springfield, Mass.) pinch-ran for Meeker and raced to third on a passed ball but could not cross the dish as a strikeout ended Elms' scoring threat.

In the home half of the fourth, Specker singled and Grimm walked to give Brandeis two runners on with one out before Coutney Kelley (Leicester, Mass.) lifted the Judges' third homer of the contest over the fence in right field and increased the advantage to eight at 9-1.

Brandeis' starting pitcher Casey Ducinski (Duxbury, Mass.) tossed three scoreless frames to start the game and earned the win to move to 9-4 on the season, allowing just one hit in the process.

Meeker suffered the loss in three innings of work in the circle and finishes the season with a 12-8 overall record.

Senior right fielder Alison McBride (East Providence, R.I.) added Elms' only other hit – a single in the first.