Behind two solo home runs and a 10-strikeout game from first-year pitcher Lexi Miskey, the Case Western Reserve University softball team defeated Brandeis University 2-1 on Friday afternoon at Marcus Field in Waltham, Massachusetts for the team's sixth straight win.

The Spartans improve to 18-8 overall and 10-2 in University Athletic Association play. The team's 10 conference victories are tied for the most in program history since the move to play on campus sites in 2017. CWRU will end the day first in the conference standings with seven scheduled games remaining. The Judges fall to 19-12 overall and 5-8 in the UAA.

After three scoreless innings, senior infielder Liv Thomas broke the deadlock with a solo home run to center field, giving Case Western Reserve a 1-0 lead. The homer was the seventh of the season for Thomas and the 23rd of her career. Her 23 home runs are fourth most in program history.

First-year outfielder Isabella Russo added a key insurance run in the top of the seventh, hitting a solo homer to center field to double the CWRU advantage. It was the third home run of the season for Russo.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Judges scored an unearned run with a two-out double, bringing the winning run to the plate. Miskey retired the final batter with a lineout to Russo, securing the win for the Spartans. She tied a career high with 10 strikeouts, allowing no earned runs on five hits and no walks in a complete game effort. Miskey (9-3) is second in the conference with 76 whiffs this season and her nine wins are tied for second in the UAA.

Thomas went two-for-three at the plate with the home run and a double. Sophomore outfielder Stevie Rieger also recorded a double in the contest.

Case Western Reserve and Brandeis will continue their series with a doubleheader on Saturday in Waltham, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.