NORTON, Mass. — The Brandeis University baseball team scored two runs in the eighth to earn a 4-3 comeback victory over host Wheaton College (Mass.) this afternoon at Sidell Stadium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons slip to 18-8 on the season, while the Judges improve to 16-11.
Brandeis managed just six hits, but left only five runners on base, while Wheaton racked up nine hits and left 13 on base for the game.
Junior center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, R.I.) paced the Lyons, going 3-5 with a pair of doubles, a run batted in, a run scored and a stolen base, while first year left fielder Brayden Lewis (Hopedale, Mass.) hit a solo home run and drew a walk. Sophomore designated hitter Logan Downey (Warwick, R.I.) was 2-4 on the day. Sophomore right-hander Jack Cali (East Taunton, Mass.) was saddled with the loss in relief and fell to 1-2 after giving up a pair of unearned runs on no hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. Sophomore starting pitcher Jack Ritchie (Raynham, Mass.) allowed two runs on six hits and no walks, while fanning five batters in five and a third innings.
Junior second baseman Matt Chafin (Canton, Mass.) was 1-3 with a run batted in and a pair of runs scored for the Judges and sophomore first baseman Danny Tambascia (Newton, Mass.) was 1-3 with an RBI, a run scored and the only walk of the game issued by the Lyons' pitching staff. Sophomore outfielder Bobby Quill (Raynham, Mass.) contributed with two hits in four at-bats. First year righty reliever Brady Ross (Rye, N.Y.) picked up his first collegiate victory after tossing two innings of two-hit shutout ball to go with three strikeouts and one walk. First year southpaw Jackson Herzog (New York, N.Y.) earned his second save of the year after giving up a hit and striking out a batter in the ninth.
Brandeis faced a 3-1 deficit, but scored a run in the sixth and two more in the eighth to take the lead for good. Chaflin grounded to shortstop to open the sixth, but the throw was just off the mark, enabling Chaflin to reach. Tambascia drew a full-count walk and both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from junior left fielder Henry Aronwald (Rye Brook, N.Y.). Junior Mano Boutsikakis (Astoria, N.Y.) flew out to center field to plate Chaflin with the tying run on the sacrifice fly. Tambascia moved up to third on the play, which proved to be a crucial move. Tambascia scampered home on a passed ball and crossed the plate to give the visitors a 4-3 edge they would not relinquish.
Wheaton looked to knot the game in the ninth after Downey belted a double to right center to lead off the frame. He moved to third on a fly ball to right. Herzog induced a shallow fly ball to right, but it wasn't deep enough to score Downey from third. Herzog closed out the game with a strikeout.
The Lyons cracked the scoring column first with a run in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 edge. Lamond served a lead-off single to left, before stealing second base. Senior third baseman Ray Toth (Granby, Mass.) drew a walk and first year catcher Alex Vosburgh (Blackstone, Mass.) singled to center to load the bases with one out. First year shortstop Evan Jones (West Haven, Conn.) grounded out to second to bring home the first run of the afternoon.
The Judges pulled even with a run in the top of third to make it 1-1. First year shortstop Noah Koong (Sammamish, Wash.) and Quill reached on back-to-back infield singles with one out, before moving into scoring position on a ground out. Chafin came through with a two-out RBI single through the left side to tie the game.
Wheaton wasted no time to re-take the lead when Lewis blasted his sixth home run of the year over the left-center field fence to open the frame. Senior first baseman Collin Reilly (Marshfield, Mass.) reached on an infield hit and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lamond delivered a double to left to knock in Reilly and give the Lyons a 3-1 margin.
Brandeis got a run back in the sixth to make it a one-run game. Chafin was hit by a pitch to open the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Tambascia single through the right side. Just like that the Judges were within a run.
Wheaton returns to play tomorrow when it heads to Mansfield, Conn. to take on Eastern Connecticut State University tomorrow at 6:00 p.m., while Brandeis returns to the diamond on April 17 when it begins a four-game set with No. 15 Washington University in University Athletic Association action at 3:00 p.m.
