WALTHAM, Mass.- After giving up two runs in the first inning, four Brandeis pitchers combined to allow no runs on just six hits the rest of the way, leading Brandeis to a 5-2 victory over Gordon College in non-conference action on Stein Diamond. The Judges are now 11-20 on the season, while the Fighting Scots fall to 16-16. Sophomore Kyle Brenner (Brookfield, Mass./St. Peter-Marian) picked up the win to move to 3-5 on the season, while Gordon freshman Scott Hall (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) earned the loss and is now 2-3 on the season.

After trailing 2-0 early in the game, Brandeis knotted things up in the fourth inning. Brenner led off the inning with a walk, and a single by junior DH Dan Gad (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) and a walk by sophomore 2b Tom McCarthy (Yonkers, N.Y./Fieldston School) loaded the bases for the Judges with no outs. 3b Pat Seaward (York, Maine/York) hit a sacrifice fly to center, and a two-out single by senior right fielder Dylan Britton (Poughquag, N.Y./Arlington) plated Gad to tie the score at two runs apiece.

The Judges broke the deadlock with three runs in the seventh inning. Rookie center fielder Liam O'Connor (Avon, Conn./Avon) put the Judges in front with a one-out double, plating rookie Max Hart (Montville, Conn./Montville) who had ran for Britton. Brenner brought in O'Connor with a single to right field, and Gad scored Brenner with his first-career triple.

Junior Brian Ing (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) started on the hill for Brandeis, allowing just one baserunner after the first inning. Sophomore Elio Fernandez (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) took over in the fourth inning, giving up three hits and striking out two in 2.2 scoreless innings. After senior Stefan Weiss (Jericho, N.Y./Jericho) got the last out in the sixth inning, Brenner came on to close things out for the Judges, striking out five batters in three scoreless frames.

Brenner and Gad led the way at the plate for the Judges, each picking up two hits and knocking in one run. The middle of Brandeis' lineup, Brenner, Gad and McCarthy, combined to hit 5-for-10 with three runs scored on the afternoon.

Gordon was paced by freshman left fielder Eric Rinaldi (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) and sophomore center fielder Alex German (Brimfield, Ill./Peoria Christian), each of whom had two hits and one RBI. Senior shortstop Brian Harrington (Shoreham, N.Y./Stony Brook) hit his 18th double of the season, tying him for sixth best in all of Division III.

Brandeis is back in action tomorrow, as the Judges play host to Salve Regina University at 3:00 p.m.

-Jeffrey Boxer