ORLANDO, Fla. – The Brandeis baseball team exploded for seven runs in the first three innings today as the Judges moved above .500 for the first time this season with a 12-6 win over Drew University in Orlando, Fla. Brandeis moves to 4-3 on the season, while the Rangers fall to 1-2.

After senior lefty John McGrath (New York, N.Y./Trevor Day) stranded two runners in the top of the first, Brandeis got off to a fast start in the bottom of the frame. The Judges took advantage of a pair of Drew walks, a passed ball and an error, but the big blow of the frame was a two-run triple by senior SS Tony Deshler (Pepperell, Mass./Lawrence Acad.).

A quiet second inning followed, but the Rangers got on the board in the third with an RBI ground out by 1B Benny Lyman. Brandeis got it back and more in the bottom of the third, scoring runs on an error, an RBI double by senior 1B Eric Rosenberg (Oakland, N.J./Red Bank Catholic)  and an RBI single by sophomore RF Andrew Cohen (Beverly Hills, Calif./Montclair Prep) that made the score 7-1. The Judges added crooked numbers with two runs in the fifth and three in the eighth, while Drew produced two runs each in the sixth and ninth, but never threatened.

Rosenberg and Deshler were the big hitters for the Judges on the day, combining to go 4-for-10 with seven RBI, a double and a triple. Rosenberg was 2-for-5 with four runs driven in, a career-high, while Deshler was 2-for-5 with three driven in and his sixth career triple. Junior DH Kenny Destremps (Mashpee, Mass./Mashpee) led the Judges with three hits, while sophomore catcher Chris Ferro (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) scored three runs.

On the hill for the Brandeis, McGrath gave up three hits and one earned run in three innings of work, striking out two and walking two in his second start of the season, while sophomore lefty Jesse Link (Weston, Conn./Weston) earned his first collegiate win with three effective innings of relief, allowing just one hit, one run and one walk with one strikeout.

Drew was paced by shortstop Michael Bodden, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Starter Steve Rossone suffered the loss with 2.1 innings of work, allowing just four hits, but seven runs, three of which were unearned. Rossone struck out four and walked two while hitting a batter.

Brandeis has one more non-conference tilt, today at 4:30 p.m. against Mt. St. Mary (N.Y.) before starting University Athletic Association play on Thursday at 11 a.m. against Emory.