Brandeis got great production from the middle of their lineup as their third through sixth hitters combined to go 9-for-19 with eight runs scored, five RBI and three doubles. Senior catcher Chris Ferro (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) had a game-high three hits out of the three hole. Junior DH Dan Gad (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) and sophomore 1B Kyle Brenner (Brookfield, Mass./St. Peter Marian) each had two hits, two runs, two RBI and a two-bagger out of the cleanup and five spots, respectively, while sophomore 2B Tom McCarthy (Yonkers, N.Y./Fieldston School) was 2-5 with his team-leading sixth double of the season.
Senior lefty Mike Swerdloff (Scarsdale, N.Y./Ardsley) was the beneficiary of the second-highest run total and fourth-most hits of the season for the Judges. Swerdloff tossed 7.1 innings – his third outing of at least seven innings this season – allowing nine hits and four runs, all earned. He struck out four and did not walk a batter, throwing 107 pitches, 71 for strikes. Swerdloff improved to 2-2 this season, earning his 10th collegiate win in the process.
The Judges scored twice in the first inning against Endicott senior righty Michael Griffin (Arlington, Mass./Arlington) on RBI singles by Gad and Brenner, but broke the game open in the third. In that frame, the Judges scored five times, their second-biggest inning of the season, sending 10 hitters to the plate. Gad opened the scoring with an RBI double. The Judges went on to score three more of their runs on EC errors, with rookie CF Liam O'Connor (Avon, Conn./Avon) singling to give Brandeis a 7-2 lead.
The Judges put the game out of reach in the fourth with four more runs as the Gulls committed another costly error, rendering three more unearned runs. McCarthy had an RBI double in the frame, with Brenner, junior 3B Dominic Schwartz (San Francisco, Calif./Lowell) and sophomore SS Brian Allen (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic) also knocking home runs.
Endicott scored single runs in four different innings as the Gulls picked up 10 hits on the day. Senior 1B Brett Holmgren (Middleboro, Mass./Coyle Cassidy) was 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while junior RF Connor Ressel (Rockport, Mass./Gloucester) was 2-3 with two RBI, a double - the Gulls' only extra-base hit – and a sacrifice fly. Rookie Davarn Nova (Wareham, Mass/Coyle Cassidy) had a fine outing in relief, keeping the Judges scoreless with four innings of two-hit ball. He fanned two and walked just one. Griffin suffered the loss, his first decision of the season.
Brandeis is back in action tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. when they host Rhode Island College, while Endicott travels to Bates College tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
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