MEDFORD, Mass. (Courtesy Tufts sports info) – Brandeis University sophomore 1B Drake Livada (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) led off the ninth inning with a solo home run to right field that gave the visiting Judges a 3-2 victory over Tufts University in local college baseball action on Tuesday afternoon at Huskins Field.

In a well-paced two-hour, 20-minute game, Tufts had struck first in the third. Junior CF Dave Katzman
(North Andover, Mass.) led off with a single, moved to second on a single by freshman LF Ian Goldberg (Lake Forest, Ill.) and scored on a third straight base hit by junior 3B Kevin Casey (Milford, Mass.). Brandeis picked Goldberg off third in a double-steal attempt to prevent any further damage.

The Judges responded with two in the top of the fourth. Livada got on base by error to lead off the inning and took second on a one-out single by sophomore catcher Artie Posch (Hopedale, Mass.). Freshman DH Pat Nicholson (East Walpole, Mass.) singled Livada home. Posch, who went to third on Nicholson’s hit, was balked home by Tufts sophomore pitcher Tom Hill (Robbinsville, N.J.) and the Judges led 2-1.

Tufts evened the score in the fifth after sophomore catcher Alex Perry (Danvers, Mass.) led off with a single. The Jumbos loaded the bases with one out, and Perry scored on a ground out. With Tufts runners on second and third, the inning ended with sophomore 1B
Corey Pontes (Milton, Mass.) lining out to left.

Brandeis starter Drew Brzozowksi (Concord, Mass.) gave way to Nicholson in the sixth, and the right-hander retired all 10 Jumbo batters that he faced. The Judges didn’t threaten in the fifth through eighth innings against Tufts pitchers Mike Stefaniak (Needham, Mass.) and Jack Dilday (Long Beach, Calif). Livada took Dilday deep in the ninth for his third home run of the year.

Judges senior SS Malcolm Cone-Coleman (Portland, Maine) went 3 for 3 in the game. He reached third base on two wild pitches in the third inning, but did not score. Nicholson was 2 for 4 in addition to his perfect relief work as the winning pitcher.

Goldberg and classmate Chase Rose (Scottsdale, Ariz.) were both 2 for 4 for Tufts. Starter David Gibbs (Harrison, N.Y.) and Stefaniak both had two-inning stints allowing one hit and no runs.

Brandeis improves to 10-7 with their second straight victory. Tufts loses for the first time in six games and drops to 13-6.