WALTHAM, Mass. - Brandeis University junior righty Drew Brzozowski (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle) scattered six hits over 7.2 innings and struck out eight Salem State Vikings today as the host Judges headed in the right direction with a 9-2 win on Stein Diamond today.
Brandeis (12-18) never trailed in the contest, scoring twice in the fourth and seventh innings. The Judges produced four straight hits in the fourth, scoring on an RBI single by junior DH Drake Livada (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) and a sacrifice fly by sophomore 1B Pat Nicholson (E. Walpole, Mass./Walpole). Salem State avoided further damage in the frame when a Brandeis squeeze play went awry.
The Judges doubled the lead in the seventh. With runners and first and second and two away, a wild pitch put both Brandeis players in scoring position. Rookie SS Julian Cavin (Brooklyn. N.Y./Beacon School), in his first game as leadoff hitter, singled to left field. That plated junior 2B John O'Brion (Portland, Maine/Portland), while senior C Nick Gallagher (Southboro, Mass./St. Johns) came home on when the right fielder overran the ball.
After getting just three hits off Brzozowski through the first seven innings, Salem State (12-15) finally struck in the top of the eighth. The Vikings got on the board thanks to back-to-back home runs to left field by sophomore 3B Troy Ingime (Malden, Mass./Malden) and junior SS Devon Davis (Abington, Mass./Abington). It was the first of the season for both players. Brzozowski allowed a third-straight hit, but sophomores Justin Duncombe (Canyon Country, Calif./Canyon) and Nick Pollack (Brooklyn, N.Y./Berkley Carroll School) combined to get the final four outs of the contest.
Meanwhile, the Judges tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by a two-run double by O'Brion and a two-run home run by sophomore RF Eric Rosenberg (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills). It was Rosenberg's first of the season and the second of his career.
The Judges had four multi-hit performances, paced by three hits each from O'Brion (3-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B) and Livada (3-4, RBI, R). Cavin, rookie LF Jon Chu (Hollis Hills, N.Y./Bronx Science) and sophomore 3B Tony Deshler (Pepperrell, Mass./Lawrence Acad.) each had two hits. Brzozowski improved to 4-1 on the season, matching his season and career high with eight strikeouts.
Ingime was the only multiple hitter for the Vikings, going 2-3 with his solo home run. Senior Greg Richards (Saugus, Mass./Saugus) suffered the loss in his first decision of the season. He allowed two earned runs on eight hits in five innings of work, striking out two and walking one.
Brandeis is next in action tomorrow at Babson for an 11 a.m. doubleheader, while SSC is at Mass. Maritime Academy for a MASCAC twin-bill tomorrow at noon.