The Brandeis baseball team inched even closer to a 0.500 overall win-loss record after earning three solid victories this week. The Judges are now 12–13 for the season and gaining momentum as they head into the final 13 games of this season. Among the final set of games, eight will be against University Athletic Conference foes New York University and Case Western Reserve University, when the Judges will have a great opportunity to improve their conference record, currently 0–8.

Judges 19, Nighthawks 4

On Wednesday, the Judges trounced the visiting  Newbury College Nighthawks, their bats exploding with multiple runs in each of the first five innings, according to the Brandeis Athletics website. From an offensive perspective, the games were a great team effort. Leadoff hitter and second baseman Victor Oppenheimer ’20 tied a Brandeis team record with a total of three hits in his seven at-bats and two runs batted in. Shortstop Mike Khoury ’21 went three hits in three times at-bat with three RBIs. Third and first baseman Isaac Fossas ’21 had two hits in his three times at-bat, four RBIs and a home run. Centerfieldman Dan Frey ’21 had two hits in his three times at-bat, five RBIs and a home run. Catcher Luke Hall ’21 had two hits in his three times at-bat and one RBI. Finally, designated hitter Liam Kennedy ’22 had three hits in three at-bats with one run batted in. Other Judges who collected hits were backup catcher Brian Shaw ’20, backup left fielder Scott Ziegler ’21, backup designated hitter Darren Bates ’21 and left fielder Donnie Weisse III ’20. Left fielder Tommy Sand ’21 had one hit and two RBIs. 

Starting pitcher Greg Tobin ’20 has a season record of three wins and two losses; he hurled a gem, striking out eight batters in six innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run. Relievers Daniel Schupper ’19, Jackson Carman ’20 and Tim Lopez ’20 each pitched one inning of relief to close out a satisfying thrashing of the Nighthawks. Nighthawk starter Joe Persichino took the brunt of the Judges’ hitting barrage, giving up eight earned runs in 2.1 innings.

Judges 17, Hawks 13

The Judges’ bats stayed red hot overnight for the next game on Thursday as they served as inhospitable hosts against the Becker College Hawks in another slugfest. Coach Derek Carlson ’91 earned his 300th career win as a college baseball coach and his 39th as coach of his alma mater. This marathon contest lasted for a long three hours and 35 minutes, and the prolific hitting carried over from the day before: the Judges scored in all but one inning. Khoury had four hits in five at-bats, four runs batted in and a homerun. Frey had two hits in four at-bats; Hall had two hits in three at-bats with two runs batted in; Sand had two hits in five at-bats with three RBIs; Kennedy had three hits in six at-bats with one run batted in; and Aneesh Avancha ’22, first base, had two hits in four at-bats with one runs batted in. Got hits were Oppenheimer, Fossas with two RBIs and right fielder Alex Parrott ’21 with two RBIs.  

Rik Jhamb ’21 earned the win,throwing one inning, comprising two hits and no earned runs. Mark Maestri ’22 earned the save, tossing three shutout innings and one hit ball. Other pitchers contributing to the victory were starter Cam Roberts ’22, Albert Gutierrez ’20 and Daniel Schupper ’19. For the Hawks, Jack Snyder (with a season record of one win and two losses) took the loss, giving up ten earned runs in 4.1 innings.

Judges 4, Curry College 3

The Judges defeated the visiting Colonels as starting pitcher Mason Newman ‘21 was in control, pitching 5.1 innings, giving up only six hits one earned run and striking out four Colonels. Kyle Shedden ’20 provided 2.2 innings of a one-hit shutout relief. Greg Tobin ’20 allowed no hits, no earned runs and struck out two batters in the ninth to earn the save. 

The offensive output was just enough to edge-out the Colonels. Oppenheimer had one hit in four at-bats, Khoury had two hits in five at-bats, Frey had one hit in five at-bats with one run batted in, Sand had three hits in three at-bats with one run batted in, Avancha had one hit in three at-bats and Parrott contributed one run batted in.

The Judges found different ways to win, first with an offensive deluge, and later in the week with pitching and defense. The week’s work put the Judges in striking distance of reaching the 0.500 mark overall for the season. Hopefully the momentum will carry over to the remaining conference games as well.