SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (courtesy WNEC sports information) - The Western New England baseball team slugged three homers and compiled a season high 20 hits in posting a 19-4 decision over Brandeis in a non-conference game Saturday afternoon at chilly Trelease Park.
The Golden Bears, ranked second in the New England Division III coaches poll, are now 24-8. The Judges, who received votes in the weekly New England poll, drop to 18-13.
With the new bat rule in effect this season, Western New England entered the game with only four homers in 224 1/3 innings.
The Golden Bears, however, took advantage of a brisk breeze blowing out to left as junior first baseman Mike Taylor (Andover, Mass.) and senior designated hitter Ryan Dudzinski (Bristol, Conn.) slugged three-run homers in the sixth.
Freshman reserve out-fielder Taylor Searles (Seymour, Conn.) went 2-for- 2 and drilled another three-run shot in the eighth for his first collegiate homer.
Taylor finished with two hits, three runs scored, and four runs-batted-in while Dudzinski also had two hits along with two runs and a stolen base.
Senior center-fielder Andrew Fatse (Hampden, Mass.) contributed two singles, a double, two runs scored, and three RBI.
Senior Evan Michaud (Windsor Locks, Conn.) improved his record to 5-0 by allowing just five hits with three runs (two earned) in six innings. He walked only one batter and had five strikeouts.
Brandeis scored three runs in the third to pull within 4-3 following a sacrifice fly by sophomore right-fielder Chris Ferro (Walpole, Mass./Walpole), RBI ground-out by senior first baseman Eric Rosenberg (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), and an error. Rosenberg also had a double in the game.
Senior center-fielder Tony Deshler (Pepperell, Mass./Lawrence Acad.) contributed a single, double, and run scored. Senior designated hitter Pat Nicholson (East Walpole, Mass./Walpole) also had two hits and scored once. Sophomore Dylan Britton (Poughquag, N.Y./Arlington) took the loss to fall to 2-3. He went two-and-two-thirds innings giving up six hits and six runs (three earned) with two walks and a strikeout.