The Brandeis University baseball team hosted Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) on Stein Diamond for a pair of doubleheaders April 21 and 22. The CWRU Spartans won the University Athletic Association (UAA) matchup in all four games, beating the Judges 27-2, 13-2, 10-0 and 15-12. While the Judges have had a tough season, their record of 5-27 overall, 1-15 in the UAA, is not a reflection of their hard work and dedication.
In the Judges’ doubleheader of the weekend, the Spartans were able to score runs in nine of their 14 at bats. Additionally, CWRU set a UAA record by scoring 15 times in the fifth inning. Junior pitcher Sean Decker-Jacoby ’24 suffered the loss for the Judges, lasting four innings and giving up 12 hits and 12 runs. The mound, though, saw a total of five Brandeis pitchers in seven innings. Center fielder Nick Heafey ’24 and right fielder Josh Liu ’26 were both able to get Brandeis on the board in the sixth inning, scoring a run each. In the second game, the Spartans sustained their momentum, scoring a total of 13 runs in seven innings. Veteran Asher Kaplan ’23 suffered the loss in game two, falling to 3-4 on the season; he threw 4.1 innings where he struck out seven, while also allowing nine earned runs. Brandeis had 10 hits and four runs in the two games; veteran center fielder Sam Nugent ’23 and sophomore catcher Justin Keeler ’25 each had a hit in both games and one double on the day.
In the first game of the Judges’ second double header against the Spartans, CWRU opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. In the fourth, Brandeis was ready to respond, as second baseman Mike DiCenso ’24 singled to left field. Unfortunately, though, the Judges were unable to put DiCenso in scoring position, and he was left on base. The sixth inning, though, was where the Spartans erupted. With two outs, CWRU scored eight runs on seven hits that included three doubles and two triples; their 10th run was scored in the seventh on a sacrifice fly. Pitcher Marc Maestri (GRAD) suffered the loss for the Judges, falling 2-4 on the season.
Despite the Judges’ scoring drought in the first three games of the series, Brandeis remained focused and committed to keeping the final game competitive against the Spartans. The final game was high-scoring for both teams, and the Judges scored 12 runs in nine innings. Senior shortstop Drew Michaud ’23 knocked a double to left field, scoring DiCenso and Nugent. In the second inning, the Spartans took the 4-2 lead, but the Judges were resilient and responded with an RBI fielder’s choice from DiCenso and an RBI double from third baseman Brian King ’23. Liu earned the lead back for the Judges in the third inning off a double that scored Michaud. The fourth was a big inning for the Spartans, as they scored on four straight at-bats, but the game was not over yet. Keeler reopened the scoring for the Judges in the eighth, singling to right field to score DiCenso; King also scored and designated hitter Griffin Bodow ’23 brought Keeler home with a single to left field. While Liu broke the scoring tie again with a hit into a fielder’s choice scoring Michaud, 12-11, the Spartans ultimately regained the lead for good in the top of the ninth; the final score was 15-12.
The Judges have a handful of games remaining in the 2023 season. They faced Tufts University on April 26 and lost 7-8. Next are games against Western New England University and Curry College.
