The Justice

Media Credit: David Sheppard-Brick / the Justice IN?MOTION: Drew Brzozowski '10 pitches in the Judges' 10-1 victory over?Becker College Thursday. He surrendered one run over 8.1 innings.

Heading into a season-ending doubleheader at home against Trinity College Sunday, it looked like the baseball team was in a good position to end its season, as well as the careers of its seniors, on a high note. But after the Bantams swept them, the Judges sunk to below .500, capping off a mediocre 2007 campaign.

The Judges lost the first game of Sunday's doubleheader 6-1 after Trinity's dominant pitching flustered them, then dropped game two 7-6 after their late-game surge fell short. After finishing 22-13-1 last season and qualifying for the ECAC tournament, the Judges took a step back this year and finished 14-15.

"It's been a real disappointing year," captain Jonathan Winston '07 said. "It's one thing if we had no talent and didn't win, but we have a strong team, [and] we just didn't come together when we needed to."

In game one, starter Tyler Robinson '08 and reliever Kyle Ritchie '10 each gave up two-run homers to the Bantams. Robinson pitched five innings and gave up four runs, only two of which were earned, while striking out four and walking one.

Bantams' junior starter Michael Regan pitched a complete game in just 80 pitches, giving up eight hits.

"Regan hit his spots and mixed speeds up on us," Winston said.

Winston homered in the sixth for Brandeis' only run, only his second blast of the season but the 14th of his career. He went 3-3 in the game.

"My home run was kind of irrelevant," Winston said. "We were down four, and it only gave us one run. If it made a difference it would have felt better."

The Bantams jumped out to an early lead in game two, scoring three unearned runs in the first inning off starter Rocco Toppi '08. Toppi lasted only three innings, giving up four runs and five hits.

The Judges charged back in the bottom of the sixth, however, sending 10 batters to the plate. After Malcolm Cone Coleman '08 and Ben Dashefsky '07 made two quick outs, designated hitter Ryan Healey '10 singled, Winston was hit by a pitch and John O'Brion '10 reached base on a catcher's interference. Third baseman James Likis '10 knocked in two runs with a single, catcher Artie Posch '10 followed with a two-RBI single, and pinch hitter Mike Alfego '09 singled as well to put the tying and winning runs on base.

Continued...

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