Brandeis Baseball Falls at Bowdoin, 8-7

Chris Ferro '13 (photo by Sportspix/Mike Tureski)
Chris Ferro '13 (photo by Sportspix/Mike Tureski)

BRUNSWICK, Maine- In a non-conference matchup between the Brandeis University baseball team and the Bowdoin Polar Bears, the Judges fell 8-7 on the road. In this contest, errors proved costly for the Judges as they dropped to 10-20 on the season despite churning out seven runs on nine hits. The Polar Bears improved to 21-9.

Brandeis took the lead early when senior Chris Ferro (Walpole, Mass./ Walpole) doubled to open the first inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly by junior DH Dan Gad (Mansfield, Mass./ Mansfield). Bowdoin rallied quickly, tying the score in the bottom of the frame before building their lead to 5-1 after four innings. In the fifth, the Judges rallied, scoring four runs on five hits with the big blow coming from sophomore SS Brian Allen (Salem, N.H./ Central Catholic) when he delivered a two RBI single with one out and the bases loaded.

The tie did not last long. In the bottom of the sixth, two Brandeis errors led to three Polar Bear runs as Bowdoin took the lead for good. The Judges nearly rallied once more in the top of the eighth when three errors by the home team led to two runs but that was as close as they would get.

Brandeis was led offensively by Ferro and Allen. Ferro was 2-for-5 on the afternoon with a double, a run, and an RBI while Allen was 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBI. Senior starter Dylan Britton (Poughquag, N.Y./ Arlington) took the loss as he dropped to 4-4 after 5 1/3, innings allowing eight runs (six earned) on 11 hits with one walk and one strikeout. Four different Judges relievers combined to close out the game.

The Polar Bears were led by junior right fielder John Lefeber (Branford, Conn./ Hamden Hall) who went 3-for-5 with a double, a run, and three RBI while senior DH Dan Findley (Duxbury, Mass./ Roxbury Latin) was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and three runs scored. Junior pitcher Mike Levine (Chappaqua, N.Y./ Horace Greely) picked up the win to move to 1-0 for the season after a scoreless sixth while sophomore David Zabinsky (Sharon, Mass./ Sharon) earned his third save of the year with a perfect ninth.

Bowdoin head coach Mike Connolly, who graduated from Brandeis in 1994, is currently leading his squad on a school record winning streak that hit 12 after today's win.

The Judges return to action on Thursday April 25th at 3:00 p.m. against Gordon College on Stein Diamond. The Polar Bears travel to Tufts University for a 3:00 p.m. contest on Friday April 26th.