SANFORD, Fla. – The Brandeis University baseball team outhit Emory University, 10-8, in the University Athletic Association (UAA) opener for both teams, but the Eagles took advantage of four Judge errors, drew four walks and stole six bases to take an 11-3 victory at Historic Sanford Stadium today. The loss snaps Brandeis's five-game winning streak and drops the Judges to 5-4 on the season, 0-1 in the UAA, while Emory improves to 9-6, 1-0 UAA.
Emory set the tone in the bottom of the first when they scored two runs on just one hit. Brandeis sophomore lefty Mike Swerdloff (Scarsdale, N.Y./Ardsley) hit rookie leadoff hitter Brandon Hannon (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh) with a pitch. He then stole second and moved to third on an error. After a strikeout, Swerdloff walked Eagle senior 3B Andrew Cohn (Marietta, Ga./Alan C. Pope), who also stole second. Swerdloff got another K, but Emory junior SS Jonathan Reilly (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./North Broward Prep) answered with a two-run double to opened the scoring.
The Judges got those two runs right back in the top of the second. Sophomore catcher Chris Ferro (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) singled through the left side of the infield to open the frame, then stole second and moved to third when the throw sailed into the outfield. Senior SS Tony Deshler (Pepperell, Mass./Lawrence Acad.) responded with a ball back up the middle to cut the lead in half. Deshler moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a one-out ground out. One batter later, junior Zach Malis (Merrick, N.Y./Bellmore J.F.K.) sent a ball through the right side to even the contest at 2-2.
The second inning went quietly, but Emory took the lead for good in the third on three hits, a double-steal and an error, with junior 2B Kevin O'Connor (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) delivering the only RBI of the frame. The Eagles tacked on another run in the fourth, when LF Patrick Riebsame (Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne Central Catholic) doubled to lead off and scored after a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly by rookie catcher Jared Welch (Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta), making the score 5-2.
Emory blew the game open in the sixth, delivering six runs on just three hits, but three walks and two Brandeis errors doomed the Judges. O'Connor had a two-run single late in the inning. Brandeis's final run came in the eighth inning when Malis doubled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a Sean O'Hare (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire Reg.) single and scored on a balk.
Brandeis ended up with four multiple hitters, paced by Deshler, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Malis, 'Hare and senior 1B Eric Rosenberg (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) each went 2-for-4, with Rosenberg extending his hitting streak to six games in the process. Malis had the Judges' only extra-base hit with his double, while Ferro was 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Despite outhitting the Eagles, 10-8, the Judges found some hard luck, hitting into four double plays.
On the hill, Swerdloff suffered the loss, falling to 1-1. He went 5.2 innings, allowing six hits, three walks and nine runs, only four of which were earned. He struck out four and hit a batter.
For Emory, O'Connor was the big hitter, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBI. Rookie Ben Hinojosa (Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock) was terrific in his UAA debut, scattering six hits over seven innings, striking out three and walking one. He allowed two runs (one earned) to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Brandeis is right back in action tonight when they take on 2010 UAA champions Rochester at 5:00 p.m.
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