WALTHAM, Mass.- In their final game of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Tournament in Sanford, Florida, the Brandeis baseball team fell to the Case Western Reserve Spartans 9-1. The Judges were led by senior 2B Sean O'Hare (Southampton, Mass./ Hampshire Reg.) and starting pitcher Pat Nicholson (Walpole, Mass./ Walpole) who each went 2-3 in the contest. Brandeis was also received help from the bullpen when senior Alex Tynan (Barnegat, N.J./ Barnegat) pitched three shutout innings. The Judges record dropped to 5-10 (1-7 UAA) while the Spartans improved to 10-5 (4-3 UAA).
Brandeis jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first when O'Hare led off with a single. Despite a fielder's choice that resulted in an out at second, a balk left a runner in scoring position. After a groundout, rookie 1B Kyle Brenner (Brookfield, Mass./ St. Peter-Marian) delivered with a two out single, scoring classmate DH Zach Bardwell (No. Andover, Mass./ Central Catholic). Unfortunately, Case jumped on the Judges starter Nicholson for seven runs in the first two innings and Brandeis could not mount a comeback.
The Judges accumulated nine hits on the afternoon, seven different players contributed to the effort. O'Hare and Nicholson led the team with two hits each. When rookie Rob Trenk (West Orange, N.J./ West Orange) pinch hit in the top of the second inning, he earned his first career hit with a single. Classmate Brian Allen (Salem, N.H./ Central Catholic) also connected on his first career hit on his only at bat when he led off the top of the ninth with a single. In his longest appearance of the season, rookie Brent Edmunds (No. Hampton, N.H./ Winnacunnet) pitched two solid innings in relief while Tynan followed with three shutout innings of two hit ball.
Brandeis returns home this week to face Bridgewater State on Tuesday, March 20th with first pitch at 3:00 p.m.