The baseball team went even across the board over the past week, going 1-1-1 in a three-day span starting Tuesday afternoon. The schedule included a tough game against Rhode Island College and two others versus Salem State University and Bridgewater State University.

RIC 11, Judges 4

The Judges started off the game hot, scoring one run in the bottom of the first to take the lead. 

With pitcher Luke Zeccola ’18 on the mound, the Judges looked to subdue the RIC offense but were only able to stave off runs in the first two innings. In the top of the third, the RIC offense broke the game open, scoring three runs and knocking Zeccola out of the game. Pitcher Anthony Nomakeo ’17 came in to try and save the game but did not have much success. Over the course of 4.1 innings, Nomakeo allowed eight runs, seven of which were earned. 

Zeccola redeemed his subpar performance with a two-run shot in the sixth, scoring in outfielder Ryan Healy ’16. 

Infielder Rob Trenk ’16 doubled in the same inning but was stranded on base at the end of the inning. 

In the end the teams four total runs were not enough to dethrone RIC, losing 11-4 in nine innings.

Despite outhitting the RIC offense 13 hits to 12, the Judges were unable to bring in the runs needed, stranding an unacceptable eight runners on the basepaths. 

Center fielder Liam O’Connor ’16 and Healy finished a healthy combined 6-9 with three of the four runs scored but were unable to garner much support from the rest of the team’s players. 

After the game, infielder Ben Bavly ’19 commented on the stranded runners, saying, “It’s both positive and negative. It's obviously good that we're seeing the ball well and getting hits, especially for extra bases. But not having the right approach and executing in certain situations, like getting a bunt down, are things that have hurt us despite some good individual at-bats.”

Judges 8, Salem St. 8

The Judges battled in an exhausting tie game between the Vikings. The first four innings of play showed no budge on either side, with each team keeping the other at bay and allowing no runs to score. Pitcher Liam Coughlin ’17 started the game and went until the seventh inning, keeping Brandeis well within sight of a win. 

The Judges went up in the middle of the game, scoring three runs in the fifth and tacking on another three in the top of the sixth. 

 Yet the Vikings slowly crawled back, adding one in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh. The Vikings offense capitalized on Coughlin’s exit, tearing up the Brandeis pitching for four runs in the eighth and tying the game at six a piece. 

Extra innings rolled in, and the Judges had no response, failing to score until the 11th. Healy doubled to bring in O’Connor and scored himself on the very next play. The Judges needed just one more inning of steady pitching to seal the game but could not stave off the Vikings. 

With O’Connor on the mound, junior left fielder Mike Davis smacked a juicy one out of the park to reel in the tying run. 

With that, the Vikings handed the Judges their first tie in exactly one decade, an 8-8 draw against Bentley College in 2006. 

Once again, the Judges hit well with 15 hits but left 10 on the bases and ruined their chances of a win. 

Judges 9, Bridgewater 7

The Judges’ sole win of the week came in a back-and-forth scoring bonanza against the Bears. Bridgewater came out strong, scoring two in the first, only to have their lead chopped down by the Judges with three runs in the second. 

The Judges gave up their lead the next inning, allowing two men to score before tying it up again in the bottom of the third with a passed-ball run. The Judges battled to score five in the final three innings while allowing only three more Bears to cross home plate. The Judges racked up 13 hits in the game and left eight stranded. Trenk, O’Connor and infielder Jay Schaff ’17 each contributed two hits to bring in a total of five runs. 

Pitcher Sean O’Neill ’18 spoke positively after the games, saying, “Despite our losing record, I'd say our season has been fairly successful to date.  The injury bug has hit our team pretty hard, and we have a small roster this year, but everyone is working hard and pulling for each other to have success.”

With the three games, the Judges improved to 8-10-1 and will face off today against Worcester State University at 3 p.m.