After a disappointing and painful season, the Brandeis baseball team managed to send its seniors off with a win in the final home game of the season with a 14-7 rout of Bowdoin College. With the win Brandeis improves to 8-29 (1-7 UAA) on the season behind a strong 2-1 stretch against teams coached by former Judges players.
Brandeis and Bowdoin were tied at 3-3 going into the fifth inning. In the top of the frame it appeared that Bowdoin was taking control of the game as they scored three runs to go ahead 6-3; however, in the bottom of the frame Brandeis plated six runs. Then after holding Bowdoin scoreless in the top of the sixth, Brandeis scored five runs in the bottom half of the inning as the Judges scored 11 of their 14 runs in the two frames.
Third baseman Sean O’Hare ’12 went 2-for-3 with two walks, two doubles and three runs scored batting in the leadoff spot. Since returning to the lineup five games ago, O’Hare is batting .400 (8-of-20) with seven runs scored, three doubles and three home runs with a 1.000 slugging percentage. Catcher Kenny Destremps ’12 went 2-for-4, scoring three runs and with an RBI batting out of the two-hole in the lineup while designated hitter Pat Nicholson M.A. ’12 had a game-high four hits going 4-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in the three-hole.
Rounding out the senior class, right fielder Zach Malis ’12 went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, and left fielder Joe Galli ’12 reached base twice after getting hit by a pitch, scoring once and driving in a run.
Center fielder Chris Ferro ’13 boosted the team going 2-for-3 with three RBIs thanks to a pair of sacrifice flies.
Although Bowdoin outhit the Judges 15-14, the Polar Bears could not come up with timely hitting to plate enough runs to overcome Brandeis’ juggernaut offensive performance.
Furthermore, the Judges’ senior class was extremely effective out of the bullpen. Alex Tynan ’12 allowed five hits and just one run in 3.1 innings of work while striking out three, and then Andrew Weissenberg ’12 retired the only batter he faced on one pitch. Nicholson closed out the game getting the last Bowdoin batter to line out to first base.
Kyle Brenner ’15 earned the win to improve to 3-7 on the season. Brenner gave up 10 hits and six runs, five earned.
Earlier in the week, the Judges faced Endicott College. In a pitcher’s duel, Endicott defeated the visiting Judges 2-1 behind a stellar pitching performance from six different pitchers.
Both teams were only able to muster a single hit through the first four innings. Endicott scored, however, in the bottom of the fourth. After Tad Gold drew a walk and stole second, Colin Sitarz drove Gold in with a RBI single to right field.
The Judges got their lone run of the game in the seventh inning, though the Judges could have blown the game open in the frame. After loading the bases with three hits and one out, Brian Allen ’15 tied the game with an RBI lineout. Unfortunately, Endicott would get out of the inning without any more damage as the next Judges’ batter harmlessly flied out to right for the final out of the inning.
Brian Ing ’14 pitched a stellar game for the Judges, going seven innings and giving up just five hits and a single run. Ing left the tied game in the eighth inning earning a no decision.
Endicott scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning after a Judges error allowed a routine groundout to reach base.
The Judges will close out their season this weekend with a doubleheader against Trinity College starting at noon on Sunday.
