The baseball team left the University Athletic Association Champion earlier this month with a 2-6 record but had some bright spots as Brian Ing ’14, Tom McCarthy ’15 and Colin Markel ’14 made the All-UAA Tournament Team. Ing was the only player in the competition to be honored in both hitting and pitching.
The team had an easy week to end March as four of their last five games have been postponed. They defeated Salem State University 8-2 on Monday. Brandeis scored the first run of day in the second inning as Rob Trenk ’15 was brought home on a fielder’s choice by Max Hart ’16. They tacked on another run in the fourth when Liam O’Connor ’16 singled, reached second on a bunt and scored two batters later on a fielder’s choice by Brian Ing. The Vikings scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth on two hits. Brandeis extended their lead in the following inning off of relief pitcher Matt Turmenne. Salem was able to get the first two batters to ground out but a single and hit batter allowed O’Connor to double home Dan Gad ’14. Hart then hit a single that scored O’Connor and Trenk. Tom McCarthy was able to reach on a fielder’s choice and round the bases off of a triple swing by Greg Heineman ’16. Starting pitcher Kyle Brenner ’15 was able to force the first two batters of the sixth inning into a double play but fell into a hole when two runners reached base on an error and a single. Ryan Beliveau brought home a runner from second and the next batter was hit, allowing the Vikings to load the bases. Brenner got out of it though as the runner advancing to second was forced out, ending Salem’s offense for the game. Another relief pitcher took the mound against the Judges but could not stop the consistent offense. O’Connor and Trenk were able to advance to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Hart. A single by Brian Allen ’15 and groundout by Ing allowed both runners to score.
Although not earning any hits, Ing was able to put the ball where it needed to go, bringing home two runners in the game. Hart had three RBI’s. Trenk, O’Connor and Allen each had a trio of hits with the first two players scoring three times apiece as well. Brenner earned his second win of the year in eight solid innings, allowing eight hits, one earned run and four walks while striking out two. Ryan Healy ’16 came into the ninth to close the game, pitching a perfect inning. Viking Ryan Hyjek received the loss, giving up five hits on two runs in four innings, walking one and striking out one. Ben Kendrew pitched the last two innings without allowing a run or hit. Salem State struggled down to a 6-9 record while Brandeis moved to 7-8. The Judges are scheduled to face the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Friday, March 28 in Cambridge.
