The Brandeis baseball team earned a win on the road against Nichols College in the Trinity Invitational with a walk-off single, but were unable to defeat the host, Trinity College, 5-3. The Judges play a rigorous non-conference schedule to adequately prepare for University Athletic Association (UAA) play in the second half of the 2023 season; the Judges are 2-3.
In the bottom of the first, the Judges got on the board when rookie third baseman Alex Kim ’26 hit a one-out double and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Brian King ’23. While Nichols initially evened out the score in the third, the Judges answered in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run triple by Kim, his third extra-base hit of the game. The Nichols Bison scored a run without a hit in the seventh and a one-out single in the eighth to earn a 4-3 lead over the Judges. Left fielder Steven Simon ’23 walked and scored on three wild pitches in the bottom of the eight to even the game at four. Pitcher Marc Maestri (GRAD) kept the Bison scoreless in the top of the ninth with a walk and two strikeouts. Judges pinch hitter Nick Heafey ’24 led off with a single, moved to second on a throwing error by the catcher and stole third, ultimately allowing sophomore catcher Justin Keeler ’25 to deliver the game-winning single to right.
Overall, Kim had an efficient offensive performance, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, a triple and two runs batted in (RBI). Center fielder Sam Nugent ’23 was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Defensively, senior pitcher Christian Tejada ’23 had his second effective start without a decision, allowing just one hit and one run over four innings. Tejada walked five and struck out three in his victory over the Bison. Maestri earned his second win in relief, going 2.2 innings and only allowing one hit and one unearned run; he walked one and fanned five.
On Wednesday, the Judges faced Trinity College. While Brandeis got within a run late in the game, they were unable to earn back-to-back games on the road, falling 5-3, adjusting their season record to 2-3. Nugent started off the game strong for the Judges with a single. Two walks and a bunt later, Brandeis had the bases loaded with one out, and shortstop Drew Michaud ’23 drove a sacrifice fly to left to open the scoring. The Trinity Bantams earned the run back in the bottom of the frame and by the fourth inning, the hosts had a 4-1 lead over the Judges. Brandeis broke through in the seventh with the help of rookie Jordan Greenaway ’26 and Keeler ’25 who both led off with singles and were bunted to second and third. Second baseman Mike DiCenso ’24 brought in one run with a grounder to short, while Nugent delivered an infield single to short that tightened the Bantams’ lead, 4-3. With Nugent running on the first pitch, he appeared to have second base stolen, but the batter was called out on interference, ending the threat. Trinity added an insurance run in the eighth, and the Judges were unable to score in the final inning.
Nugent and Greenaway each had an efficient offensive performance, 2-4 with a run scored, with Nugent also driving in a run. Defensively, junior starter Sean Decker-Jacoby ’24 suffered the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits over three innings; he walked two, hit two batters and struck out two. Veteran Jakob Newman ’23 did not allow a run over 3.2 innings of relief, allowing two hits and three strikeouts, though he did hit three batters.
The Judges look to earn a win on the road against Worchester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Massachusetts. The 3:30 p.m. match-up was rescheduled due to inclement weather.
