WALTHAM, MASS – Senior DH Eric Rosenberg (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) went 4-for-5 with 5 RBI to lead the Brandeis University baseball team past MIT, 9-5, in this afternoons contest on Stein Diamond.   The Judges are now 14-10 on the season, earning their fourth win in a row.  With the loss, the Engineers fall to 14-7.

The Judges got off to a fast start, scoring three runs on three doubles in the first inning.  With two outs and one on, Rosenberg doubled for an RBI, sending sophomore LF Nick Cortese (Guaynabo, P.R./Baldwin School of Puerto Rico) home.  Junior catcher Kenny Destremps (Mashpee, Mass./Mashpee) and junior 2B Sean O'Hare (Southampton, MA/Hampshire Reg.) doubled for an RBI a piece, putting Brandeis up 3-0.

Brandeis took a commanding lead in the bottom of the second, plating four more runs. After rookie SS Dom Schwartz (San Francisco, Calif./Lowell) reach second on an error, senior Ryne Barry (Phoenix, Ariz.) walked the next two Brandeis batters to load the bases.  Rosenberg doubled again, this time for 3 RBI.  O'Hare followed up with an RBI single to bring in Rosenberg and give Brandeis a 7-0 advantage.

After a scoreless third inning, the Engineers finally answered back in the top of the fourth.  With the bases loaded, rookie Colin Markel (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale) walked  senior catcher Dan Hyatt (Wallingford, Conn.) to bring in MIT's first run. Sophomore 1B Ricardo Perez (Vienna, Va.) singled to plate LF James McKinney (Wakefield, R.H.), making the score 7-2.

MIT earned two more runs in the top of the sixth to come within three of the Judges.  Junior catcher A.J. Hansborough (Deltona, Fla.) doubled and Hyatt was hit by a pitch to get two runners on.  A well-executed double steal put Hansborough into scoring position.  Rookie RF Justin Helbert (St. Louis, Mo.) came in to pinch hit for sophomore RF Sean Fannin (Reynoldsberg, Ohio), managing a 2 RBI single, making the game 7-4.

Not to be denied, Brandeis replied with another run in the bottom of the sixth.  Cortese doubled to center field and advanced to third on an error.  Rosenberg singled for another RBI, sending Cortese over the pate.

The Judges kept the Engineers scoreless over the next two innings before scoring their final run in the bottom of the eighth.  With a runner on third, Destremps ground out to second base for the sacrifice fly and an RBI, giving Brandeis a decisive 9-4 lead.

With two outs in the final  inning,  sophomore pinch hitter Grant Iwamoto (Aiea, H.I.) homered to left field for the Engineers final run, closing the game 9-5.

The Engineers were paced by Helbert with one hit and 2 RBI and Hansborough, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles.  From the hill, Barry earned the loss, pitching just 1.2 innings, allowing six hits and seven runs.  The four relieving pitchers allowed a combined six hits, giving up just two runs with four strikeouts.

For the Judges, Rosenberg led the way with four hits, two doubles and 5 RBI.  Destremps went 2-for-3 with  a double and 3 RBI. From the hill, Markel pitched 5.1 innings allowing five hits and four runs.  Junior Alex Tynan (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) pitched 2.0 innings of relief allowing just three hits and no runs, striking out two batters.  Sophomore Mike Swerdloff (Scarsdale, N.Y./Ardsley) pitched the final inning of relief, with one hit, one run and two strikeouts.

The Engineers are in action again on Friday when they host Springfield College.

Brandeis is back on Stein Diamond tomorrow afternoon when they host Rhode Island College.