After going 2-2 to start the season, the Brandeis baseball team prepared for the first home games of the season. Between March 18 and 23, the team played five games, all at home.
Their first game was against St. Joseph’s college and offense was plentiful. The two teams combined for 25 hits and 19 runs in the game. After a relatively clean first inning from pitcher Asher Kaplan ’23, the Judges quickly put up three runs to give them the lead. Two of those runs came via a two-run home run to right center field by catcher Luke Hall (GRAD). In the second inning, the Judges scored another three runs. This time first baseman Mike Khoury (GRAD) hit a two-run home run. As St. Josephs scored a combined three runs in innings two and three, the Judges put the game away with seven runs in the third inning. Khoury hit his second home run of the game and led the team to a 13-3 lead going into the fourth inning. The lead proved to be enough as the final score of the game was 13-6 as the men’s baseball team won their first home game of the season. Khoury was unstoppable at the plate, as he had four hits in his four at bats. He also had four runs batted in (RBI) and a walk. Right fielder Steven Simon ’23 and center fielder Dan Frey (GRAD) both had three hits in the game. Kaplan pitched four innings while allowing four runs and had five strikeouts.
The team was supposed to play a game against Bates College on Saturday, but the game was postponed and ultimately played the next day. In game one against Bates, the Judges got out to an early 6-0 lead thanks to a Khoury home run and extra base hits from third baseman Brian King ’23 and Frey. However, runs in the fifth and sixth inning led the Bates comeback. Ultimately, the Judges went to the bottom of the seventh with a chance to get a walk off win. Walks to second baseman Mike DiCenso ’24 and outfielder Sam Nugent ’23 and a hit by a pitch gave the Judges the bases loaded with a chance to win the game. Then the perfect player for the situation came up to the plate. Khoury stepped up to the plate with another two hits in the game after the four hit performance a few days before. He did not disappoint as he hit a walk off single to give the Judges a 7-6 victory. Pitcher Christian Tejada ’23 started the game and pitched two scoreless innings.
In their second game of the day against Bates, the Judges quickly were behind by four runs as Bates got Brandeis starter, James Murphy ’25 out early. Then in the third inning, the Judges’ offense came alive. The inning was highlighted by a grand slam by shortstop Drew Michaud ’23, as he led a six run Brandeis third inning. They put up another four runs in the next inning as Frey also hit a grand slam. For the rest of the game, the Judges continued to pour on the runs as the final score was 21-9 in favor of Brandeis. Khoury had another three hits in the game, including another home run.
Three days later, the Judges played Wentworth Institute of Technology for an afternoon game. Brandeis once again got out to an early lead as they led 3-0 after the third inning. Frey continued his recent success with RBI singles in the first and third innings. Although the Judges scored a few more runs in the game, the team’s success was focused on pitcher Mason Newman (GRAD). Newman pitched a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts. This was his third career complete game and first career complete game shutout. The final score of the game was 9-0. Designated hitter Aidan Schleer ’25 and Hall each had two hits in the game, while Frey added three hits and four RBIs. Khoury also continued his recent success with an RBI double and a walk.
Khoury’s incredible week led him to earn University Athletic Association Hitter of the Week honors and a spot in the D3Baseball.com Team of the Week. Additionally, he was named Division III National Hitter of the Week by the National College Baseball Writers Association.
The baseball team looks to continue their strong start with another home game against Bates on March 25. They will then play two more games against Amherst College on Saturday, March 26 and a game against Lasell University on Sunday, March 27.
