COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- The Brandeis University baseball team batted around three times, including twice in the fifth inning, en route to the second-largest margin of victory and third-highest run total in school history as the Judges defeated Norwich University, 27-0, in their season opener in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

Brandeis (1-0) wasted no time in jumping on the Cadets (0-1), as the first three batters reached on a pair of singles and a walk, loading the bases. Senior LF Jon Winston (Nanuet, N.Y.) slugged a two-run double, followed by a sacrifice fly by rookie catcher Artie Posch (Hopedale, Mass.). After getting retired in order in the second, the Judges sent 11 men to the plate in the third, scoring six runs. The highlight of the inning was a two-run home run by Posch in his second collegiate plate appearance. Classmate Ryan Healey (Lynn, Mass.) followed three batters later with an RBI double for his first college hit.

In the fourth, two Norwich errors set the table for a two-run single by sophomore DH Dave Almeida (Bridgeport, Conn.), who finished the day with a team-high five RBI. The monumental fifth inning saw eight different Judges reach base more than once, while six players crossed the plate twice. The No. 2 slot in the batting order saw senior Ben Dashefsky (Massapequa, N.Y.) contribute a single and a two run double and rookie Dylan Maeby (Los Angeles, Calif.) draw a walk. Winston added a sacrifice fly and rookie 3B James Likis (Cambridge, Mass.) had a two-run single and reached on an error. Likis scored twice in the inning and four times in the contest.

On the hill, six pitchers combined for the three-hit shutout. Junior Craig Letendre (Acushnet, Mass.) started the contest and allowed one hit in three innings, striking out two and walking one. Sophomore James Collins (So. Boston, Mass.) won the team's season opener in relief for the second year in a row, striking out four of the eight batters he faced in two innings of work. Rookie Kyle Ritchie (Brewster, Mass.) struck out one, walked one and started a 1-6-3 double play in his first collegiate inning of work, while three Brandeis hurlers combined to retired the side in the seventh.

The Judges open University Athletic Association (UAA) play on Tuesday against defending champion Emory University at 2:30 p.m.