Worcester State sophomore 1B Rob MacDonald, a Waltham native, drove in four runs today helping Lancer head coach Dr. Dirk Baker his 400th career victory. Baker, in his 18th season, now owns a 400-264-1 record, with winning seasons in 12 of his previous 17 campaigns.
MacDonald reached base in four of his five plate appearances, driving in runs with three of them. He had an RBI single in the top of the first, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth and had a two-run single in the eighth, giving the Lancers some breathing room after the Judges had cut a five-run deficit to 6-4 two inning earlier.
WSU also had three-hit performances from sophomore RF Zach George (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro), who scored three runs, and rookie SS Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, Mass./Marlboro), who had a run and an RBI. Junior DH Joe Carlier (Rockland, Mass./Rockland) drove home two runs with a first-inning groundout and a single in the eighth inning.
Brandeis managed just two hits through the first five innings against WSU starter Cody Osburn (Sacramento, Calif./Gilmour Acad.), both by junior 3B Dominic Schwartz (San Francisco, Calif./Lowell). Schwartz singled in the first and doubled in the third, when he scored on successive wild pitches.
After the Lancers scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth to make it a 6-1 game, Brandeis looked to get back into the contest in the bottom of the sixth. After a pair of walks, senior LF Dylan Britton (Poughquag, N.Y./Arlington), in his first game of the season in the field, singled up the middle to drive in one run. Sophomore SS Brian Allen (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic School) followed with a single to third base that plated two more runs thanks to a throwing error, but the Judges were unable to do any further damage. WSU then got those runs back in the top of the eighth. Lancer sophomore Jared Kuzio (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) finished off the contest with three strong inning of relief, allowing four hits and one unearned run, inducing a pair of double plays in his stint.
Osborne got the win, improving to 2-0 with six innings of four-hit ball, though he did walk six. He also fanned five and allowed four runs (two earned). Kyle Brenner (Brookfield, Mass./St. Peter-Marian) suffered the loss, falling to 0-5 allowing 10 hits and six runs (four earned) in four innings of work.
Brandeis is off until Saturday, when they host WPI for a doubleheader at noon. Worcester State hosts local rival Becker College tomorrow at 4 p.m.