Castro, Igawa Hit Career Milestones in Softball's Sweep of Brandeis

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team and Leopards Head Coach Erica Castro earned a pair of victories over the Brandeis Judges by 6-0 and 8-6 scores Saturday afternoon, earning Castro her 99^th and 100^th career wins at the helm of the program.

Additionally, Kyla Igawa became the 13^th Leopard all-time to reach the 100 career hits plateau.

With the two victories, the Leopards sail back to .500 at 6-6 overall. The Judges fall to 1-11.

GAME ONE: WENTWORTH 6, BRANDEIS 0

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth got on the board early in the first inning as Kelsey Medalia sent a solo home run beyond center field, marking a 1-0 score. Medalia homered again in the third frame, extending the lead to 2-0, before Jess Rowe fired a home run blast of her own in the third inning to mark a 3-0 score.
• The Leopards padded their lead in the fifth inning as a single from Katie Kranz with two runners on drove one home, marking a 4-0 lead. A ground out on the following batter drove home a run by Linnea Carlson.
• A single from Lexi Lefkowski in the sixth inning with two runners in scoring position plated one, stretching Wentworth's lead to 6-0. Julie Schriver retired six of seven batters faced between the sixth and seventh frames to hold on for the shutout, striking out five batters and only surrendering three hits in a complete game.
• Rowe and Medalia each paced the Black & Gold with three hits apiece while the former notched two RBI.

GAME TWO: WENTWORTH 8, BRANDEIS 6

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth earned a 3-0 lead in the first inning as a three-run homer by Jess Rowe plated additional runs by Igawa and Medalia. The Judges cut into the lead in the back half of the frame as a double from Haley Nash plated one runner.
• In the second inning, a single from Igawa, which turned out to be the 100^th of her career, with the bases loaded drove home two runners, giving the Leopards a 5-1 advantage.
• A fielder's choice with the bases loaded for Brandeis in the third inning resulted in another run scored, marking a 5-2 game, before an ensuing single brought home another two runners, cutting the Judges deficit to 5-4.
• A walk with the bases loaded earned Wentworth another run in the fifth inning before a sacrifice fly by Jenna Roche would plate another run, marking a 7-4 advantage. A wild pitch later on drove home a run by Sydney Miccile to extend Wentworth's lead at 8-4 lead.
• The Judges clawed back in the sixth inning, first with a single driving home one run with two runners in scoring position. A line out later plated another runner, marking an 8-6 game. However, Julia Malowitz struck out the following batter and retired three straight in the bottom of the seventh inning to preserve the win.
• Malowitz struck out three and only surrendered one hit to earn the win. Carlson paced the offense with a game-high three hits.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Schriver now sits just five wins shy of becoming the program's all-time leader in wins.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards visit MIT on Tuesday.
  

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