WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University softball senior
Ragini Kannan (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) was terrific in her final collegiate start, but a pair of University of Chicago hurlers were even better as the Maroons defeated the Judges, 1-0, in the final game of the season for both teams. The game was played at Bentley University because of wet field conditions at Brandeis.
TEAM RECORDS
- Brandeis: 21-19, 8-10 University Athletic Association.
- Chicago: 19-20, 7-11 UAA.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Kannan's final contest saw her throw her team-leading ninth complete game of the season and the 44th of her career, sixth most in program history, despite taking the loss to fall to 9-8.
- Kannan allowed five hits, striking out three with one walk and one hit batter. The three Ks gave her 350 for her career, second all-time at Brandeis and nine shy of the Judges' all-time record.
- She allowed only two runners past second base, both coming in the second inning.
- Chicago scored the game's lone run when Olivia Cataldo singled through the left side. Kannan hit the next batter, and Eleanor Johnson bunted the runners into scoring position.
- The Maroons' Anna Jensen then hit a short fly into center field that dropped in between the centerfielder and second base, allowing Cataldo to score. Kannan got the last two outs on a fly to left and a liner to short, leaving the score at 1-0.
- Unfortunately for the Judges, the Maroon pitchers were even better. Marisa Lloveras threw the first five innings, limiting the Judges to just four hits and one walk to earn the win. She improved to 1-2.
- Johnson came in to pitch the last two innings and earned her second save of the series and fourth of the campaign.
- Brandeis's best chance to score game in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, junior 1B Brooke Boehmer (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) tripled to right field.
- Lloveras got Brandeis sophomore 3B Jordan Wallace (Howell, N.J./Choate Rosemary Hall) on a called third strike, but junior 2B Katie Baydian (Massapequa, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy Academy) stole second, putting two runner in scoring position. Senior CF Bells Burdenski (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo) drilled a 1-2 pitch to center, but it was right at the centerfielder, ending the threat.
- The Judges got baserunners in the second, third, and fifth frames, but could not advance them to second.
- Brandeis had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh when senior RF Maddie Manes (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) led off with a single to left. She was bunted to second, but Johnson induced a pop up to the catcher and a grounder to first to end the game.
