Spring Break
BASEBALL: Robinson salvages week for Judges
by Jeffrey Pickette
Senior writer
Sports | 4/8/08
Posted online at 2:03 AM EST on 4/8/08
"We never even had a guy in the bullpen. Basically the game was on his shoulders," Lambert said.
Robinson didn't disappoint, inducing two fly outs to the outfield and a pop up behind home plate to end the game. Posch called a series of outside fastballs to help his pitcher escape unscathed.
"[Robinson] being a lefty, with the way the ball is naturally going to move-away from a right-handed batter-makes it harder to hit," Posch said.
The first four hitters in the order-Alfego, second baseman John O'Brion '10, third baseman Drake Livada '10 and right fielder Dave Almeida '09-combined for six of the team's eight hits in addition to scoring three runs and delivering three RBIs.
"We were jumping on first pitches, not waiting around, [and were] swinging the bat. If you don't wait around, [and you] get up there and hack, it's easier to hit," Alfego said.
Brandeis jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first game of the doubleheader on an RBI single from Livada '10 but could not hold it. Springfield scored four unanswered runs off Judges starter Rocco Toppi '08 to take a 4-1 advantage in the third inning.
Toppi, who had pitched five shutout innings in his last start April 1 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, lasted only 2 2/3 innings against Springfield.
"[Toppi] threw the ball pretty well. There were just some situations where the opposing players swung the bat in key situations and hit the ball pretty well," Lambert said. "[Toppi] gave it his all, he just didn't have everything. I'm sure he'll be fine in his next start."
Brandeis cut the deficit to 4-3 on a sacrifice fly from Posch and a Nicholson RBI groundout in the top of the sixth inning, but Springfield scored in the bottom of the inning to increase the lead to two runs.
In the top of the seventh inning, Brandeis had runners on first and second base with two outs, but O'Brion grounded out to second base to end the game.
The Judges play at Tufts University today at 3 p.m. and at Worcester Polytechnic Institute Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. before hosting Bridgewater State College Friday at 3:30 p.m. The team also plays Keene State College in New Hampshire Saturday at 1 p.m.
Robinson didn't disappoint, inducing two fly outs to the outfield and a pop up behind home plate to end the game. Posch called a series of outside fastballs to help his pitcher escape unscathed.
"[Robinson] being a lefty, with the way the ball is naturally going to move-away from a right-handed batter-makes it harder to hit," Posch said.
The first four hitters in the order-Alfego, second baseman John O'Brion '10, third baseman Drake Livada '10 and right fielder Dave Almeida '09-combined for six of the team's eight hits in addition to scoring three runs and delivering three RBIs.
"We were jumping on first pitches, not waiting around, [and were] swinging the bat. If you don't wait around, [and you] get up there and hack, it's easier to hit," Alfego said.
Brandeis jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first game of the doubleheader on an RBI single from Livada '10 but could not hold it. Springfield scored four unanswered runs off Judges starter Rocco Toppi '08 to take a 4-1 advantage in the third inning.
Toppi, who had pitched five shutout innings in his last start April 1 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, lasted only 2 2/3 innings against Springfield.
"[Toppi] threw the ball pretty well. There were just some situations where the opposing players swung the bat in key situations and hit the ball pretty well," Lambert said. "[Toppi] gave it his all, he just didn't have everything. I'm sure he'll be fine in his next start."
Brandeis cut the deficit to 4-3 on a sacrifice fly from Posch and a Nicholson RBI groundout in the top of the sixth inning, but Springfield scored in the bottom of the inning to increase the lead to two runs.
In the top of the seventh inning, Brandeis had runners on first and second base with two outs, but O'Brion grounded out to second base to end the game.
The Judges play at Tufts University today at 3 p.m. and at Worcester Polytechnic Institute Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. before hosting Bridgewater State College Friday at 3:30 p.m. The team also plays Keene State College in New Hampshire Saturday at 1 p.m.
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