The softball team played two doubleheaders last weekend, struggling through the first three games before Casey Ducinski '13 pitched a no-hitter to carry the team to an 8-0 win in its weekend finale. The Judges are now 5-10 on the season. Last Sunday, the Judges played a doubleheader at Emerson College. In the second game, Brandeis found its rhythm and racked up enough runs for the mercy rule to come into effect, and the game ended after just five innings with Brandeis winning 8-0.

Ducinski's no-hitter led the team. She struck out four Emerson batters and walked three, facing just two batters over the minimum.

As Ducinski shut down Emerson, the Brandeis bats began to wake up for the first time all weekend. Brandeis' first six hitters got on base, and all six of them scored as part of a six-run first inning. Third baseman Danielle Lavellee '11 had an RBI fielder's choice, and first baseman Courtney Kelley '11 drove home a second run on a single.

Catcher Megan DeNubila '12 delivered the knockout punch, blowing the game open with a grand slam. It was the first home run of DeNubila's career and the fourth by a Brandeis batter this season. Brandeis scored two more runs in the fifth inning on a single by shortstop Brittany Grimm '12.

"I think we had a much better second game," Lavallee said. "It took us a little while to warm up in the first game. We mercied them the second game. DeNubila had a grand slam in the first inning of the second game, which really set the momentum for our team, and Casey [Ducinski] just kept Emerson off balance the rest of the way."

In the first game against Emerson, the Judges got off to a slow start and ended up dropping the game 5-3. The game was tied 1-1 until the fifth inning, when Emerson scored four runs.

Brandeis was able to score two more runs in the sixth inning to narrow the gap, but the team was unable to complete the comeback.

"We didn't start the first game off strong offensively. . We didn't get a lot of hits progressively," said catcher Leah McWilliams '14. "The pitching [in the second game was great]. Everyone hit their spots. The pitchers have been doing great this whole season-we've just been lacking offensively."

Last Saturday, the softball team lost two one-run games against Clark University, losing by scores of 2-1 and 5-4.

"The games against Clark were both one-run games," Lavallee said. "We were disappointed that they could have gone either way, and [against Emerson] we tried to come out and do a much better job and make sure our offense, defense and pitching . went out strong."

In the second game, Brandeis jumped out to an early lead but was unable to hold on. DeNubila singled to lead off the third inning, and a bunt by centerfielder Lauren Porcaro '12 was botched, giving Brandeis runners on the corners. Grimm hit an RBI single that put Brandeis on the scoreboard, and pitcher Melissa Nolan '14 plated two more Judges later in the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Brandeis was able to load the bases but could not capitalize and left three stranded. Clark claimed the lead in the next half-inning.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Brandeis scored its fourth run off of a solo blast from Porcaro to bring the team within one, but the girls could not make a comeback. It was the first home run of the season for Porcaro

Nolan threw a complete game and racked up nine strikeouts in the first game against Clark. Nolan allowed only three hits, but she took the loss to fall 3-3 on the season as Brandeis lost 2-1.

The Judges had several opportunities to score early but was unable to take advantage of them. Grimm hit a single, stole second and was able to advance to third on a bunt. However, she was tagged out on a hard-hit ball to third base, ultimately preventing her from scoring.

In the fifth inning, Brandeis finally got on the scoreboard. Nolan led off the inning with a single and advanced to second after McWilliams reached on an error. Pitcher Caroline Miller '12 pinch ran for Nolan, and both Miller and McWilliams were able to move up on a double steal. Grimm hit a grounder to second base, which brought Miller in for the Judges' first-and only-run of the game.

In the seventh inning, Clark was finally able to get to Nolan. The lead batter, sophomore shortstop Meg Melkonian, hit a single that bounced away from Grimm. Cougars freshman first baseman Tatiana Chunis then launched a homer to right field, putting Clark up by a score of 2-1.

Brandeis was able to get on base in the bottom of the seventh inning when Porcaro walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Nolan, but the team was unable to score again.

McWilliams admitted that the team was off to a slow start, but said that it was headed in the right direction.

"I think we're good," she said. "It's a slow progression right now, but once we get all the kinks out, . I think we'll be a great team."

The softball team's next action is at home tomorrow with a doubleheader against Rhode Island College beginning at 3 p.m.