WALTHAM, Mass. -- Sophomore Ben Kuja of
Madison, Connecticut, and senior
Bells Burdenski of
San Diego, California, members of the baseball and softball teams, have been named the Brandeis University Athletes of the Week for the week ending April 5. The Brandeis Athlete of the Week program is presented by The Chateau Restaurant and Jake n JOES Sports Grille.
Kuja, helped the Judges to a University Athletic Association series split at the University of Chicago over the weekend, batting .500 (8-16) with a double, triple, home run, and team-highs of seven runs scored and eight RBI. After going hitless in the series opener, Kuja had eight hits in his last 13 at-bats. He was 2-5 with a run scored in Game 2 of the series, a 4-2 loss, then reached base in all six plate appearances in a 19-6 Game 3 win, going 4-4 with two walks, a double, a triple, four runs scored, and a career-high six RBI. In the series finale, an 8-2 victory, Kuja's first career home run opened the scoring as he went 2-4 with rwo RBI and 2 runs. He is now fifth in the UAA in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage, and eighth in slugging percentage.
The Judges, who are 11-10 (4-4 UAA) this season, step out of conference to meet Amherst College on Wednesday afternoon before their first UAA home series against NYU this weekend.
Burdenski helped the Judges go 4-2 in three non-conference doubleheaders last week, batting .353 with two doubles, two home runs, six runs scored, and 10 RBI. She hit safely in five of the team's six games, driving in a run in each of those five. She had a two-run double and a sac fly in a 7-1 win over UMass Dartmouth and a two-run single in a 5-4 loss in Game 2 against the Corsairs. After her lone hitless game, in an 8-0 loss to Wellesley, she drove in the game's first two runs in an eight-run first inning of an 11-2 win in the nightcap. Finally, in a sweep of Bates (6-2 and 8-6), Burdenski homered in both ends of the doubleheader, including a walk-off in the Judges' Game 2 win.
Brandeis owns a 16-8 record (3-3 UAA). They will meet #22 WPI on Wednesday at 3 p.m. before heading to Pittsburgh for a three-game UAA series at Carnegie Mellon.
This is the tenth year that the Brandeis Athlete of the Week program has been presented by The Chateau Restaurant Group. The Athlete of the Year Program highlights top Brandeis student-athletes who have had an outstanding athletic achievement in the week prior. Each selected student-athlete will be featured on the Brandeis athletics homepage and inside the Chateau Waltham and Jake n JOES.
Owned and operated by the Nocera Family, the Chateau Restaurant of Waltham opened in 1933 and set the standard for providing the tradition of Italian family dining, friendly service, and quality food at reasonable prices for its customers. Located on 195 School Street, with 900 seats, the Chateau is always ready to accommodate large parties.
The Nocera Family consists of 6 brothers who have always had a passion for playing sports. In 2010, the Nocera Family launched a new concept, Jake n JOES Sports Grille. Jake n JOES Waltham opened in 2014 and is the best place to watch a game and enjoy quality food.
"Brandeis student-athletes are fantastic role models in our community,” says Chateau President Joe Nocera, “They exemplify the ideals of excellence and commitment both on and off the playing field. The Chateau Waltham and Jake n JOES Waltham are proud to partner with Brandeis Athletics to continue to enhance a positive focus within the Waltham Community."
Kuja is a 2024 graduate of Daniel Hand High School. For more information on Brandeis baseball, visit their web page at https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/baseball.
Burdenski is a 2022 graduate of Rancho Bernardo High School. For more information on Brandeis softball, visit their web page at https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/softball.
For more information on Brandeis athletics, visit our web page at www.brandeisjudges.com or follow us on social media on X, Instagram, and Facebook @BrandeisJudges.
