The No. 4-ranked Emory softball team opened defense of its league title in impressive fashion on Tuesday, posting a decisive victory over Brandeis in its opening game of the University Athletic Association Championships in Altamonte Springs, Florida.  The Eagles raised their record to 25-1 following a 16-7, five-inning decision over the Judges who slipped to 4-2.

Emory spread out its offense with eight players contributing to the 11-hit attack including juniors Lauren Gorodetsky and Megan Light and freshman Natalie McLaughlin, all of whom hit safely twice.   McLaughlin added three RBIs in helping the squad to its second-highest run total in a conference tournament game.

The Eagles struck early, tacking up five runs on the board in the top of the first inning.  After a sacrifice fly by sophomore Micah Scharff scored Gorodetsky, freshman Hannah Sendel socked a two-out grand slam, her first homer of the season.  After the Judges scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the frame, Emory crossed the plate seven times in the top of the second with Light's run-producing double and McLaughlin's two-out RBI single, the key blows in the barrage.  Holding a 14-6 lead, Emory closed out its scoring in the top of the fourth when McLaughlin's two-out single scored sophomore Brianna Berceau and senior Ellyn Kocoloski.  Junior pitcher Lena Brottman went the distance in notching her fourth win in as many decisions, surrendering just two earned runs while striking out a pair.

Emory returns to action at the Championships on Wednesday when it plays No. 25 Washington University at 10:00 am and the University of Rochester at 12:30 pm.