WENHAM, Mass. (taken from a Gordon College press release) — The Brandeis University baseball team fell behind early and couldn't quite come all the way back as the Judges dropped a 10-7 decision against host Gordon College today. The Judges fall to 11-18 on the season, while Gordon improves to 12-15-1 in 2015.
The Fighting Scots tagged Brandeis starter Ryan Pocock (Westford, Mass./Westford) for two runs in the first inning on a pair of miscues. Jared Kefalas (Wenham, Mass.) scored on a wild pitch before Dean Demers (Sandy Hook, Calif.) scored easily on a fielding error at the deep part of shortstop.
Gordon chased Pocock from the game in the bottom of the second inning with three more runs. Jeremy Jackson (Waco, Texas) singled up the middle to start off the inning before stealing second with no outs. Pocock struck out a Scot, but another wild pitch put Jackson just 90 feet from Gordon's third run.
Alonzo Ouzts (Largo, Md.) hit a slow grounder to third base and Brandeis decided to throw home on the play to try to get Jackson. The third baseman threw the ball away, allowing both Jackson and Ouzts to be safe on the play. Demers homered in Ouzts two batters later to give the Scots a 5-0 advantage.
Brandeis collected three hits and walk in the third inning to put pressure on the Scots' pitching staff. Nick Falkson (Dedham, Mass./Thayer Acad.) drove in Remy Pontes (Arlington, Mass./Arlington) with one out in the inning on a sacrifice drive to center field. Pocock singled an 0-2 pitch over second base into shallow center to bring Liam O'Connor (Avon, Conn./Avon) around to score.
After Gordon built its lead back up to four runs, Brandeis chipped away in the fifth and sixth innings to cut the deficit down to 6-5, scoring on a balk and Kyle Brenner (Brookfield, Mass./St Peter Marian) sac fly in the fifth and a Falkson single in the sixth.
The Fighting Scots broke things open in the seventh when they put up a four-run, four-hit frame. Alonzo Martinez (El Paso, Texas) and Mark Fitzgerald (Camarillo, Calif.) both hit doubles in the inning, including Fitzgerald's screamer down the left-field line to bring in two runs. Alan Nahigian (Saugus, Mass.) plated the other two runs in the inning with a two-out single up the middle.
Brandeis scored twice in the eighth inning despite not getting a hit, scoring runs on an error and a sacrifice fly, Falkson's second and the team's third of the game.
Connor Birch (Bellingham, Mass.) came in to earn the save in the ninth, his third of the season for Gordon.
Pocock was credited with his first loss of the season, giving up three hits and four walks in one and a third innings. Matt Amore (Pequannock, N.J.) went three innings strong will giving up two runs and three hits. He improves to 1-1 this season.
Brandeis will play its fourth consecutive Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent tomorrow with a home game against Salve Regina. Gordon has Friday off before an important CCC doubleheader at Eastern Nazarene on Saturday at 1 p.m.