SANFORD, Fla. - Sophomore LF Tony Deshler
(Pepperell, Mass./Lawrence Acad.) singled with the bases loaded to
drive in two runs and give the Brandeis baseball team a 6-5
walk-off victory over Case Western Reserve University in University
Athletic Association (UAA) action at Historic Sanford Stadium.
Brandeis (4-4, 2-1 UAA) trailed going into the bottom of the
ninth after the Spartans (4-9, 2-2 UAA) had gone ahead in the top
of the frame. Rookie LF Matt Richards (San Juan Capistrano,
Calif./San Clemente) doubled to lead off the top of the ninth for
Case and got bunted to third. Brandeis sophomore hurler
Nick Pollack (Brooklyn, N.Y./Berkeley Carroll
School) induced a ground out with the infield in to get the second
out, but sophomore catcher Chad Mullins (Fredericksburg,
Ohio/Waynedale) came through with the go-ahead RBI for his first
hit of the game.
In the bottom of the inning, Case rookie pitcher Sam Alexander
(Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) got the first out of the inning,
but Brandeis sophomore DH Pat Nicholson (E.
Walpole, Mass./Wapole) singled, followed by junior RF John
O'Brion (Portland, Maine/Portland). Alexander got the next
out on a fly ball, but loaded the bases on a walk to rookie SS
Sean O'Hare (Easthampton, Mass./Hampshire
Regional). That brought up Deshler, the 2008 UAA Rookie of the
Year, who plated both runs for his fourth and fifth RBI of the
season.
Case opened the scoring with single runs in the third and fifth
innings. Senior 2B Kevin Haley (Kent, Ohio/Kent Roosevelt) opened
the scoring with an RBI single, but Deshler prevented any further
damage by throwing out a runner at the plate. In the fifth, Spartan
rookie SS Bobby Marko (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) created a run by
singling, stealing second, moving to third when the throw went
awry, and stealing home. The Judges manufactured a run in the
bottom of the fifth on two walks, a ground out and a wild pitch
that plated junior 1B Drake Livada (Cape
Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth).
The Spartans took a 4-1 lead in the sixth with three hits, but
the Judges knotted the game in the seventh by plating three runs on
four base knocks. Sophomore catcher Zach Wooley
(Argyle, Texas/Jesuit College Prep), Nicholson and rookie 2B
Joe Correia (Belleville, N.J./Montclair Kimberly
Acad.) all drove home runs, setting the stage for the exciting
ninth inning.
Brandeis had four multiple hitters. Livada reached base in all
five plate appearances, with two singles and three walks, scoring
two Brandeis runs. Deshler finished 2-for-5 with two RBI, while
senior OF Mike Alfego (Shrewsbury, Mass./St.
Johns) was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Correia had the Judges' only
extra-base hit, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Junior Kyle Ritchie (Brewster, Mass./Nauset
Reg.) gave up just four runs (three earned) in 7.1 innings despite
allowing 11 hits. He struck out five and walked just one. Pollack
earned his second win with 1.2 innings of work, allowing two hits
and one earned run. The Judges won despite stranding 15 runners, as
they drew eight walks in addition to their 12 hits on the day.