WALTHAM, Mass. – Baseball graduate student
Jake Freed of
Vernon Hills, Illinois, and softball junior
Ragini Kannan of
Westford, Massachusetts, have been named the Brandeis University Athletes of the Week for the week ending April 6. The Brandeis Athlete of the Week program is presented by The Chateau Restaurant and Jake N Joes Bar and Grill.
Freed, a right fielder, hit safely in all four games in the Judges' 2-2 split with NYU in University Athletic Association action last weekend. He batted .429 with two doubles, a triple, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored. He walked three times and stole three bases as he slugged .714 with a .529 OBP.
In Game 1 of the series, a 4-3 Brandeis win and the only close game of the weekend, he tripled and made a great game-saving catch in right field with the tying run on third, after the Judges had taken the lead in the top of the seventh. Freed drove in runs in the two Brandeis losses (12-3 and 16-3), then went 2-4 with two RBI, two runs scored, a double and two stolen bases in the team's 14-0 win in the finale. Overall this season, Freed is hitting .282 with 14 RBI and 10 runs scored. His four stolen bases are second-most on the team, while his .411 on-base percentage leads the Judges.
With 10 wins this season, the Judges have their most victories since 2022. The Judges are 10-15, 2-6 in the UAA.
Brandeis will play host to Emory University in a four-game UAA series starting on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.
Kannan, a pitcher, went 2-0 with a pair of complete games in a 2-1-1 week for the Judges against non-conference opponents last week. She allowed 6 hits and 3 earned runs in a 4-3 win over Wellesley, striking out three and walking one. In an 8-4 win over WPI, she also allowed six hits and three earned runs (four total), with 5 Ks and 3 BBs. She became the 15th pitcher in Brandeis history with 25 career wins, and moved into 11th place with 32 complete games.
Brandeis has a 6-17-1 record, 2-4 in the UAA. The Judges resume UAA play this weekend with a three-game series against Carnegie Mellon University at home, starting on Friday afternoon.
This is the ninth year that the Brandeis Athlete of the Week program has been presented by The Chateau Restaurant Group. The Athlete of the Year Program highlights a top Brandeis student-athlete who has had an outstanding athletic achievement from 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."
Freed is a 2019 graduate of Stevenson High School. For more information on Brandeis baseball, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/baseball.
Kannan is a 2024 graduate of Westford Academy.
For more information on Brandeis softball, please visit our homepage at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/softball.
For more information on Brandeis athletics, visit our web page at www.brandeisjudges.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook @BrandeisJudges.
