The baseball team managed one win in the final half of their eight-game University Athletic Championship in Florida. They defeated Washington University in St. Louis on Thursday, March 13, 5-3. The Judges had lost to the Bears three days earlier, 8-3.
The first run of the game came from the Bears in the bottom of the third. They loaded the bases with no outs on a hit batter and two singles. Chris Lowery knocked in Stewart Martens on a groundout to third base. The Judges also put up a run in the fourth on an opportune balk, but ended the inning with Tom McCarthy ’15 being thrown out at home on an attempted sac fly by Dan Gad ’14.
Brandeis had another chance in the sixth, but Sam Miller ’16 was thrown out on an attempted suicide squeeze. The small ball finally paid off in the seventh as McCarthy tied the game on a fielder’s choice by Greg Heineman ’16 after reaching on a double to right field. Bears starting pitcher Kunal Patel had the Judges controlled over his seven and a third innings allowing only three hits, but Brandeis was able to strike ahead off relief pitcher Brad Margolin. McCarthy began with a single to left center, allowing Ryan Tettemer ’17 to come in to pinch run. Dan Gad singled to left, and Heineman was able to reach on the next at bat as Gad and Tettemer advanced on a throwing error. With one out and the bases loaded Robert Trenk ’15 singled down the left field line to score Gad and Tettemer. Trenk and Heineman then each advanced on a wild pitch. After Max Hart ’16 struck out, the Judges still had two runners in scoring position with two outs. Miller singled to right center to score both runners, later ending the inning with a 5-1 lead.
The Bears roared back in their final chance loading the bases with no outs on a double, single and walk off of starter Brian Ing ’14. Elio Fernandez ’15 came in to minimize the damage and secure the win. A runner scored on a fielder’s choice and another on a single to right field. With the leading run at the plate, Fernandez got Zack Kessinger, last years’ tournament’s most valuable player, to fly out to left field and end the game.
McCarthy was solid on offense going 4-4 with a run. Ing received his first win of the year after lasting eight innings allowing 10 hits, three runs and two walks. Fernandez earned the save. Margolin left with the lost. Brandeis took advantage of opportunities on offense, being outhit by Wash U. 11-7. The Bears were unable to bring runners full circle, leaving 10 runners on base. Brandeis is now 6-8 overall and 2-6 in the UAA. Wash U. is 5-7 overall, 4-4 in conference. Case Western Reserve University and Emory University are each conference champions, going 6-2 in the tournament. Brandeis’ scheduled games against Bridgewater State University and Wentworth Institute of Technology were canceled this week due to weather. They return to the field at home on Friday, March 21 against Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
