THE BASICS:
 
- Score:
Game 1: MIT - 5, Brandeis - 2
Game 2: MIT - 4, Brandeis - 2

- Records: No. 17 MIT (2-0), Brandeis (3-5)

- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Briggs Field)

- The Lead: The 17th-ranked MIT softball team opened its 2024 season with a doubleheader sweep of Brandeis on Tuesday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED GAME ONE

- It was a pitcher's duel early with three combined hits through the first four innings.
 
- Sophomore Caroline Langmeyer (Upper Arlington, Ohio) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second by striking out the side swinging to keep the game scoreless. She then escaped a second and third situation in the fifth with a flyout.
 
- Senior Rylie Spiegel (Rumson, N.J.) led off the fifth with a single and advanced to third on a double by sophomore Kara Hines (Cynthiana, Ky.). Junior Mikayla Cable (Valrico, Fla.) then placed down a bunt to score Spiegel for the first run of the day. Junior Kennedy Adkison (San Jose, Calif.) followed with an RBI single to center and senior Mackenzie Relihan (Naperville, Ill.) doubled home two more runs to give MIT a 5-0 lead.
 
- Brandeis got two runs in the top of the seventh, but Langmeyer got out of the inning to secure the 5-2 win.   

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Langmeyer went the full seven and allowed two unearned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.
 
- Adkison led the Engineers with two hits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME TWO

- The Judges put together four straight hits to open game two as a Maddie Manes double plated the first run of the day. Junior Becca O'Connor then retired the next three batters to leave the bases loaded.
 
- Cable led off the bottom of the first with a single left center and came around to the game on a Brandeis error. Senior Katia Pendowski (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) then launched the ball over the leftfield wall for a three-run homer to make it 4-1.
 
- Brandeis got one back in the second on a triple by Erin Hunt, but that would be the last run they scored off O'Conner as the Engineers won game two, 4-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Pendowski is now tied for the most home runs in a career with 10. She is also ninth all-time with 54 career RBI.
 
- O'Connor earned the win with the complete game as she allowed just two runs (one earned). She struck out three and walked none.
 
- Cable led the way with two hits in the game for MIT.
 
UP NEXT:

-  The Engineers will head to Clermont, Fla. for their Spring Break trip. They will open play on Sunday, March 24 with a doubleheader against Colby with first pitch scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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