CHICAGO, Ill. – The Brandeis University softball team wrapped up its 2025 season with a pair of heartbreaking one-run losses at the University of Chicago, as the Maroons scored the winning run in their last at-bats of both games, winning 9-8 and 2-1 in University Athletic Association action today.
TEAM RECORDS
- Brandeis: 8-30-1, 3-15 UAA.
- Chicago: 21-19, 10-8 UAA.
HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 1 (Chicago 9, Brandeis 8)
- In the opener, both teams scored three runs in the first inning. Brandeis got an RBI single from grad student Haley Nash (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) and a two-run double by senior Anna Kolb (Alexandria, Va./Thomas A. Edison).
- Chicago answered scoring three runs on one hit against rookie starter Claire Warden (Annandale, Va./Woodson). The Maroons opened the inning with two walks and a hit batter. Warden got the first out on a swinging strikeout, but a grounder to short produced one run, and a single down the right field line tied the game at 3-all.
- Chicago would score three more runs in the second on a walk and four hits to take a 6-3 lead.
- The Judges would bounce back to score five unanswered runs. Nash doubled in a run in the fourth, and the team bunched five hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly to score four runs in the fifth, with Kolb and first-year catcher Dylan Yamamura (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Parl) each picking up RBI singles as Brandeis took an 8-6 lead
- In the bottom of the fifth, Chicago got one back as the first two batters reached on singles. A pop-up and a bunt put the runners in scoring position, and a single to short cut the hosts' deficit to 8-7.
- After a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, Brandeis got the first two outs of the bottom of the inning, but Chicago's Laila Sims singled and Matilda Nelson followed with a two-run home run to center field for the game-winning runs. Brandeis went in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
- Brandeis shortstop Katie Baydian (Massapequa, N.Y./) went 3-3 with three runs scored, while Kolb was 2-4 with three RBI and Nash was 2-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
- Warden went 1.1 innings and gave up six runs on just three hits, with three strikeouts, three walks and two hit batters. First-year Jamie Staub (Lawrenceville, N.J./Hun School) shouldered the loss after 4.2 innings of relief, allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking one. She falls to 1-10 on the season.
- Chicago's Paige Heffke earned the win, allowing three hits and one earned run in three innings, striking out four without walking anyone, to move to 15-9.
HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 2 (Chicago 2, Brandeis 1)
- Brandeis faced Heffke for the third time in the series, as she faced Brandeis grad student Kathryn Vermeulen (Evergreen, Colo./Evergreen).
- The Maroons generated their first run of the game in the bottom of the first without a hit. Madeline Murphy led off the game with a walk and stole second. She moved to third on an infield grounder and aggressively took home on a dropped third strike when the catcher threw to first for the out.
- Brandeis got the game's first hit in the third by Vermeulen, and they scored their first run in the fifth inning. Junior Maddie Manes (San Clemente, Calif./San Juan Hills) doubled to lead off the inning. She was bunted to third and scored on Vermeulen's single to shortstop.
- Chicago put two runners on in the sixth, but Brandeis got out of the inning unscathed.
- The Maroons picked up a walk-off win in the seventh with four straight hits, three coming through the left side of the infield, including the game-winner by Audrey Hui.
- Vermeulen took the loss, pitching six-plus innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs. She struck out two and walked five, finishing her season at 3-6. Junior Ragini Kannan (Westford, Mass./Westford Acad.) faced the last three hitters of the game and allowed the game-winning hit.
- Vermeulen also led the Judges at the plate with two hits and their lone RBI.
- Heffke earned her third win of the series for UC, throwing seven innings of four-hit ball. She allowed one run, struck out five and did not walk anyone, improving to 16-9 on the season.