ATLANTA, Ga. – The Brandeis University softball team took a 4-3 loss in the first game of their University Athletic Association series with #23 Emory University today.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis: 1-12, 0-1 UAA.
• Emory: 15-2, 1-0 UAA, ranked #23 in Division III by the NFCA.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles started off strong, scoring first in the bottom of the first inning. Emory's Ashley Chu started it with a single. After Chu advanced to second base by a ground out, Grace Cooper singled to shortstop and Chu scored on a throwing error by the shortstop.
• The Judges caught up and scored three runs in the third inning. Junior Maddie Manes (San Clemente, Calif./San Juan Hills) started with a walk, then grad student Haley Nash (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) hit a single to left field. Junior Anna Kolb (Alexandria, Va./Thomas Edison) hit a crucial double scoring both Manes and Nash. Lastly, senior catcher Tristan Boyer (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) hit a single to center field scoring Kolb, finishing the inning, 3-1. 
• Emory earned back a run in the fifth inning. Chu slapped a single to shortstop and then stole second base. Rylie Ballog hit a single to left and Ellie Zeer followed with another single to left to score Chu, making the score 3-2.
• In the sixth inning, the Eagles scored a pair of unearned runs to win the game. They loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Chu slapped another ball to short that was misplayed, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Brandeis Junior Ragini Kannan took the loss, falling to 0-2 on the season, despite a fantastic outing. She gave up nine hits and four runs, but only one was earned. She issued just, one walk and had four strikeouts.
• Nash had two hits for the Judges, while Kolb had the highest RBI count (2). 

UP NEXT

• Brandeis and Emory meet for the last two games of the UAA series tomorrow starting at 12 noon.