After seeing their eight-game winning streak come to an end, the Brandeis baseball team had two spectacular offensive performances as the team won both games during the week of April 18. The Judges defeated Framingham State University 21–11 on Sunday, April 18, and won 9–1 against Anna Maria College on Wednesday, April 21. With these two wins, the Judges move up to 10-3 on the season.

Sunday, April 18: Judges: 21, Framingham St.: 11

Josh Garber (GRAD) tossed five innings and sophomore Drew Michaud ’23 had a career-high four hits as the Judges avenged their two losses to the Rams on April 15.

Leading 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Judges sent 19 hitters to the plate, scoring 15 runs on 10 hits. Michaud had two singles in the inning, driving in three runs. The Rams would score eight unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but it was not enough.

Michaud ended the afternoon going 4-for-4 with five runs batted in and three runs scored. It’s Michaud’s third multi-hit game of his career and first this season. His five runs batted in tied a career high he set last season on March 8, 2020, against Western New England University.

Every Judges starter had at least one run batted in (RBI). Brian King ’23 had his fourth multi-hit game on the season, going 3-for-4 and scoring three times. Sam Nugent ’23 and Steven Simon ’23 each added two hits.

Garber allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits over five innings as he picked up his second win of the season. Garber rebounded after lasting just two and one-third innings in his previous start on April 10 against Johnson and Wales University.

Zak Summy ’23 made his season debut in relief of Marc Maestri ’22. Summy entered the game in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and two outs, striking out the Rams leadoff hitter to end the inning. Fellow sophomore Christian Tejada ’23 retired the Rams in order in the ninth.

Wednesday, April 21: Judges 9: Anna Maria: 1 (Final 5)

Tim Lopez ’20/MA ’21 pitched five innings and Dan Frey ’21 had two hits as the Judges defeated Anna Maria in a game shortened due to rain and lightning.

After the Amcats cut the Judges’ lead to 2-1 in the top of the third inning, the Judges batted around in the bottom half of the inning, scoring six runs on three hits. Following Luke Hall’s ’21 walk to load the bases, Frey doubled to left, bringing in Nugent and Mike Khoury ’21.

Despite getting outhit nine to five by Anna Maria, the Judges drew six walks and were hit by pitches twice. Frey had a team-high with two hits and two RBIs. Frey’s third-inning double was his eighth of the season, also a team-high. Frey also swiped his sixth stolen base in the fourth. Hall scored two runs, as he drew two walks and got hit by a pitch.

Lopez earned his third win of the season, allowing nine hits and striking out two. Lopez was efficient, throwing just 73 pitches and issuing no walks. Lopez allowed only one extra-base hit, a solo homer in the third.

Hall Awarded UAA Baseball Hitter of the Week

Hall has been at the center of the Judges’ success this season. The senior catcher has started all 15 games, helping guide the team to a 12-3 record. Hall played an integral role in a doubleheader sweep over the Lasell Lasers Saturday April 24, as the Judges won the first game 22-1, and the finale 6-2.

Hall continued his hot hitting, as he had three extra-base hits including a two-run homer while also scoring four runs in the doubleheader. Hall’s strong performance earned him his second University Athletic Association (UAA) Baseball Hitter of the Week for the week ending April 24. Including the Judges’ 9-1 win against Anna Maria on April 21, Hall reached base in eight of his 11 plate appearances while scoring six times this past week. Hall is tied with a team-high 17 hits, including three home runs, and has a 0.362 batting average.

Saturday April 24, Game 1: Judges 22, Lasell: 1 (Final 7 innings)

Classmates Khoury, Hall and Darren Bates ’21 all homered, and the Judges used a 13-run third inning as they cruised in the first game of the doubleheader.

Up 1-0 heading into the bottom of the third, the Judges sent 19 hitters to the plate, mashing 10 hits. This is the second time this season the Judges have had 19 batters hit in an inning, doing so against Framingham St. in a 21-11 win on April 18. Khoury hit a solo homer and senior infielder Isaac Fossas drove in four runs on two doubles in the inning.

The Judges would add five more runs in the fourth, with Hall blasting a two-run homer and Bates hitting a pinch-hit three-run homer, which was the first of his career.

Graduate student Greg Tobin ’20/MA ’21 pitched six innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out five. Tobin earned his third win of the season and twelfth of his career. It is Tobin’s third straight start of six innings and allowing three or fewer runs.

In total, the Judges outhit the Lasers 20-6. Eight Judges had at least two hits, with Hall leading the way with three.

Saturday April 24, Game 2: Judges: 6, Lasell: 2 (Final 7 innings)

King and Isaac Fossas ’21 each hit two-run homers and sophomore Asher Kaplan ’23 tossed six and two-thirds innings as the Judges completed the doubleheader sweep.

Trailing 6-1 and down to their last out in the seventh, the Lasers mounted a rally. After an error and a single, the Lasers’ center-fielder hit a line drive to right field for an RBI-single, cutting the lead to 6-2. Tejada relieved Kaplan, walking the first hitter he faced to load the bases before getting the Lasers’ designated hitter to strike out looking to end the game.

After both teams scored a run in the first inning, graduate student Victor Oppenheimer ’20/MA ’21 led off the second with a walk. King followed by hitting his first-career homer, giving the Judges a 3-1 lead. The Judges added two more in the third on Fossas’s third homer of the year. With the homer, Fossas leads the Judges with 19 runs batted in.

Kaplan earned his third win of the season, putting him in a tie with Tobin and Lopez for the team lead. Kaplan had a season-high seven strikeouts, allowing two runs on six hits. Kaplan’s outing was his third consecutive start pitching at least six innings and allowing two or fewer runs.

With that, the Judges wrap up their spring season for 2021 with an impressive 12-3 record.