Baseball Falls to Brandeis, 18-6

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University baseball team cruised to an 18-6 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Wednesday night at Stein Diamond. The game was stopped in the middle of the seventh inning due to the agreed upon ten-run mercy rule.

The Judges improve to 17-12 on the season as they snapped a four-game losing streak. The Bears, whose five-game winning streak came to an end, fall to 23-11 overall.

Brandeis banged out 18 hits in the contest including three home runs and ten extra base hits. The Judges scored 17 runs over first four innings including an eight-run second.

Junior third baseman Brian King (Palos Verde, Calif) led the Judges' offense as he was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with a pair of doubles, a triple, a run scored and four runs batted in. King was a home run shy of the cycle.

Junior left fielder Sam Nugent (Mansfield, Mass.) homered twice for Brandeis as he went 3-for-4 with a walk, four runs and three RBI. Graduate catcher Luke Hall (Georgetown, Mass.), who walked three times and scored two runs, also went deep for the hosts as he reached safely in all four plate appearances. Graduate designated hitter Victor Oppenheimer (West Hills, Calif.) finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, two runs and an RBI, while graduate centerfielder Dan Frey (Ipswich, Mass.) doubled twice in five at bats, scored three runs and knocked in two. Junior right fielder Steven Simon (Hanover, Mass.) also finished with multiple hits for the Judges as he singled twice in two trips to the plate, scored a run and drove in a pair.

Sophomore right fielder Jay Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.), freshman second baseman Scott Emerson (Peabody, Mass.) and sophomore left fielder Joe Frechette (Plymouth, Mass.) notched two hits apiece to pace the Bears. Wladkowski went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, a run and four RBI, while Emerson went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Frechette singled twice in four at bats.

Wladkowski's two stolen bases gave the Bears 98 thefts on the season, one shy of the team single-season mark of 99 set in 2009.

Sophomore shortstop Kevin Lindsay (East Bridgewater, Mass.) extended his hitting streak to ten games with a single in the top of the fourth inning. Lindsay also walked in two plate appearances and scored a run.

The Judges used five pitchers on a staff day with graduate righthander Brandon Musto (Milton, Mass.) getting the start and picking up the win. Musto (2-3) gave up three runs on fourth hits over three innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Senior lefthander Cam Roberts (Leominster, Mass.), junior righthander Reid Latham (North Easton, Mass.) and senior righty Christian Petrisko (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) each tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Judges.

Both teams are back in action on Friday afternoon. The Bears host a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with Worcester State University starting at two o'clock, while the Judges entertain Tufts University at three.