Baseball Head Coach Pete Varney earned the 700th win of his coaching career on Wednesday, April 7. The win came against Worcester State University at home, by a score of 7-2.
This is Varney’s 34th year coaching baseball at Brandeis. He is the 13th active coach in Division III to reach the milestone, and 29th overall amongst the NCAA. However, Varney is only the fourth coach from the New England Division III ranks to reach 700 wins. As of Tuesday, April 14, Varney’s overall career record is 700-522-6.
Sam Miller ’16 threw his third complete game of the season to get Varney the win, allowing two runs, one earned run, three hits, three walks and a career-high six strikeouts. After a two-out error in the top of the first inning, Miller retired 12 batters in a row, and after a bunt and stolen base in the fifth, the Lancers wouldn’t get another runner past first base.
Worcester started off with the lead, scoring both of their runs in the top of the first inning off one hit. With one out, the Lancers’ left fielder drew a walk and stole second base. Worcester’s right fielder then doubled to right-center, scoring the left fielder from first. Then when the Judges’ second baseman booted a ball, the runner on second scored at home, giving the Lancers their second run.
The Judges put runners on in each of the first four innings, but it wasn’t until the fifth inning that the Judges would get one home. With two errors by Worcester in the fifth inning, the Judges took advantage, as Brian Allen ’15 got on base after an error to start off the inning. Kyle Brenner ’15 then crushed a double to right-center, which allowed Allen to score from first. Connor Doyle ’16 then not only moved Brenner over with a sacrifice bunt, but reached first on an error by the pitcher. Brenner was then thrown out at home on a ball hit to third base, after stealing third earlier, for the first out of the inning. Ryan Tettemer ’17 then doubled to bring in Doyle, tying the score. The Judges later pulled ahead 4-2 when a walk put Nick Falkson ’18 on base, followed by Ryan Healy ’16 singling up the middle, bringing home both runners.
Brandeis added three runs to secure Varney’s 700th win in the seventh inning when Greg Heineman ’16 contributed an RBI single and Ryan Pocock ’18 came on to pinch hit and hit a two-run double. Miller silenced any retaliation by the Lancers, retiring six of the last seven batters he faced.
Brandeis’ bats came alive as the Judges were paced by Heineman and Brenner, who each stroked three hits. While five different players drove in runs, Pocock led the team with multiple RBI.
Brandeis baseball plays again Tuesday, April 21 at Gordon College.
