Sharks Fall to Judges in ECAC Elimination Game

GAME FIVE: BRANDEIS 3, SIMMONS 1 WALTHAM, Mass. -- In the opening game of the day, Brandeis pitcher Caroline Miller earned her 16th win of the season by holding Simmons to two hits over the first five innings. The Sharks tested Miller in third when she gave up a one-out single to Simmons catcher Victoria Luongo (Medford, Mass.) and issued a walk to leadoff hitter Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.), but that was the only Shark runner to advance past first base against Miller. Cailin Pagel (Dorchester, Mass.) singled in the fifth, but was cut down trying to steal by rookie catcher Cori Coleman.

Pitching

Win: Caroline Miller (16-8)
Loss: Lauren Backhaus (15-9)
Save: Melissa Nolan (1)

Batting

Simmons
2B: Emily Cunningham; Ari King
3B: none
HR: none
Brandeis
2B: Leah McWilliams
3B: none
HR: none
full stats
Posted: May 13, 2012

GAME FIVE: BRANDEIS 3, SIMMONS 1

WALTHAM, Mass. -- In the opening game of the day, Brandeis pitcher Caroline Miller earned her 16th win of the season by holding Simmons to two hits over the first five innings. The Sharks tested Miller in third when she gave up a one-out single to Simmons catcher Victoria Luongo (Medford, Mass.) and issued a walk to leadoff hitter Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.), but that was the only Shark runner to advance past first base against Miller. Cailin Pagel (Dorchester, Mass.) singled in the fifth, but was cut down trying to steal by rookie catcher Cori Coleman.

Offensively, Brandeis got on the board quickly in the first inning. Amanda Genovese legged out a single to second base. It was the first of her career-high four hits in the game. After a single to center field by Marianne Specker, Sharks pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) retired the next two hitters, but rookie Anya Kamber again poked a ball to the right side and beat the throw to drive in the run.

Genovese was in position to score again in the third, after beating out a bunt single back to the circle and moving to second on an overthrow. She then stole third, but Backhaus bore down and got the next three hitters on a line out and two strikeouts to keep the hosts at bay.

Brandeis finally broke through the Sharks strong defense in the fifth for two more. Sophomore Leah McWilliams led off with a double to the gap in right-center, and Genovese finished with her third hit of the day, slapping a single to center. She picked up another steal, allowing Specker to plate McWilliams on a groundout to short and Grimm to bring home Genovese on a bunt single to third base. A hard Lauren Porcaro drive to right field and a successful double steal put two more in scoring position, but the Judges left them there after a pop-up and liner to third.

The Sharks scored their lone run in the sixth inning off of reliever Melissa Nolan, off two doubles to the fence by Ari King (Westford, Mass.) and Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) to break the shutout in the sixth but the Judges held the Sharks to one to advance to the Championship round.

The Sharks finish their 2012 season with an overall record of 26-18.

Scoreboard
  • Thu, 05/02 Softball vs. No. 2 Emmanuel 1-1 (
    Bottom of 10th
    )     V | LS
  • Sat, 04/27 Softball at Johnson & Wales (RI) W, 7-4 (Final) RC | BX | V
  • Sat, 04/27 Softball at Johnson & Wales (RI) L, 6-0 (Final) BX | V
  • Wed, 04/24 Softball vs. Emmanuel (Mass.) L, 5-3 (Final) RC | BX | V | Program
  • Wed, 04/24 Softball vs. Emmanuel (Mass.) L, 3-1 (Final - 8 innings) RC | BX | V | Program