PROVIDENCE, R.I. (courtesy JWU sports information) – Brandeis sophomore SS Sean O'Hare (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire Regional) hit a grand slam to cap a five-run eighth inning and tie the game at 7-7, but Johnson and Wales junior Teddy Katz (Pittsburgh, Pa.) responded with a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Wildcat baseball team a thrilling 8-7 victory against Brandeis in a non-conference contest at Pierce Field on Thursday afternoon. 

Brandeis took the 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single by sophomore Jon Chu (Hollis Hills, N.Y./Bronx H.S. of Science).  Johnson & Wales responded in the bottom of the first when senior Jonathan Melendez (Providence, R.I.) led off with a single and scored on an RBI groundout by sophomore Zach Boyes (West Warwick, R.I.).  The Wildcats took the 2-1 lead on an infield single by senior Rich Fonseca (East Providence, R.I.) that plated junior Nick Alosco (Mahopac, N.Y.) with the go-ahead run.  After a scoreless second inning, the visiting Judges knotted the game at 2-2 on a two out RBI single by Chu.  JWU regained the lead in the bottom of the third after Boyes reached on a fielders choice and later crossed the plate on a run scoring double by Fonseca to take the 3-2 advantage. 

Fonseca’s third RBI of the afternoon in the bottom of the fifth increased JWU’s lead to 4-2 and the Wildcats later capitalized on a Brandeis error to go up 5-2.  In the bottom of the sixth, Melendez belted his ninth home run of the season and fourth in the last two games to put the squad up 6-2.  The Wildcats extended their lead on an RBI double by junior Bryan Sayers (Chelmsford, Mass.) to go ahead 7-2.  Brandeis rallied in the top of the eighth, scoring five runs, including O'Hare's second round-tripper of the season and the fourth of his career to knot the game at 7-7.  Katz then provided the heroics in the bottom of the ninth to give JWU the 8-7 victory.