MEDFORD, Mass. (courtesy Tufts sports information) - The Brandeis University baseball team returned to action for the first time in more than a week on Saturday and the Judges dropped a doubleheader at the hands of rival Tufts University, 10-2 and 5-4. 

Jumbos junior pitcher Tim Superko went seven strong innings in the first game and senior SS Matt Moser hit a clutch two-run double in the second game. Superko allowed four hits and two runs with nine strikeouts in the opener, while Moser went 2 for 3 with a run and two RBI in the nightcap. The seven-inning games were the first at home on Spicer Field for Tufts this spring.

Brandeis greeted Superko with a run on two hits in the first inning of game one. Senior catcher Connor Doyle (Avon, Conn./Avon Old Farms) singled through the left side, scoring classmate CF Liam O'Connor (Avon, Conn./Avon) who had walked to lead off the game. The Judges stranded three that inning, and Superko would retire the next 13 batters in order.

Brandeis starter Ryan Pocock (Westford, Mass./Westford) was equally effective early. He did not allow a hit until the fourth inning when Moser led off with a walk and scored on a double to left field by sophomore 1B Mike McLaughlin tying the score.

Tufts would add three runs after two were out in the fifth to lead 4-1. After freshman catcher Eric Schnepf led off with a walk, a single by Moser, a double by sophomore 3B Tommy O'Hara, and a single by McLaughlin all scored runs.

Brandeis rookie 2B Benjamin Bavly (Newton, Mass./Newton South) would end Superko's run of retiring hitters with a lead-off triple in the sixth. Senior 1B Greg Heineman (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) followed with a single through the left side scoring Bavly and making it a 6-2 game. However, Superko would get the next three outs, including one on a pick-off.

The Jumbos blew the game open with six in the bottom of the sixth. O'Hara hit a two-run single and other RBI came off the bats of Moser, McLaughlin, and sophomore DH Dan Kelly.

McLaughlin went 2 for 4 with three rbis out of the five-hole for Tufts, while O'Hara finished 2 for 3 with three rbis and two runs. Moser scored three times while finishing 1 for 2 with two rbis. Sophomore Christian Zazzali went 2 for 2 with a run and Schnepf scored twice.

Bavly was the only hitter in Brandeis' line-up with two hits in game one. Pocock took the loss allowing four hits and four runs with five strikeouts and four walks in 4.2 innings.

The Jumbos built a 5-0 lead in game two, including three runs in the first inning. O'Hara and McLaughlin were back at it with a two-run single and an rbi double, respectively. The Jumbos added two more in the fourth when senior CF Cody McCallum led off with a walk, junior RF Oscar Kutch singled, and Moser scored both with a double.

Tufts would end up needing all of those runs. Jumbo starter Speros Varinos cruised through the first four innings allowing just one hit and two walks. However, two Tufts errors in the fifth led to four unearned runs by the Judges. Heineman had an RBI single in the middle of it. Jumbo sophomore Ian Kinney entered in relief and stranged Judges on second and third by recording the final out of the inning.

Kinney and freshman R.J. Hall retired the final seven batters for the Tufts win, with Hall picking up a save.

Moser finished 2 for 3 with a two rbis and a run in game two. McCallum was 2 for 2 with two runs at the top of the order. Kutch and McLaughlin also had two hits. Varinos earned his fourth win, allowing six hits and four runs (none earned) with three strikouts and two walks in 4.2 innings.

Senior Max Hart (Montville, Conn./Montville) was 2 for 3 for Brandeis. Miller (2-4) went the distance for the Judges, giving up nine hits and five runs with four K's and three walks in six innings. It was his seventh career complete game.

Brandeis (8-12-1) returns to action with their second-straight NESCAC opponent, heading to Bowdoin College for a pair starting at noon. The game will feature two head coaches who are former Brandeis teammates, Derek Carlson '91 for the Judges and Michael Connolly '94 for the Polar Bears. Tufts (11-3) returns to Huskins tomorrow for a single game against Framingham State at 1:30 pm.