Northboro, Mass. (taken from a WPI press release) --- The Brandeis University baseball team erased a four-run deficit in the top of the ninth inning, but WPI sophomore 1B Tyrone Patterson delivered a walk-off three-run home run to right as the Engineers topped the Judges, 12-9, Thursday at the New England Baseball Complex.
The Judges had rallied to take a 9-8 lead into the bottom of the ninth, as rookie 3B Mike Khoury (East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater) capped a five-run uprising in the top of the inning. The Judges were down to their last out when rookie catcher Luke Hall (Georgetown, Mass./Georgetown) singled to center and classmate 2B Scott Ziegler(Avon, Conn./Avon Old Farms) reached on a fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 8-6. Sophomore LF Donnie Weisse (Swampscott, Mass./St. Mary's) then evened it up with a 2-RBI knock through the right side. Khoury followed with the go-ahead RBI.
The Judges got the first two outs in the bottom of the frame before WPI junior SS Steven Gallagher walked and came around to score thanks to a double by senior 3B Matt Howard. Sophomore DH David Larson then drew a walk before Patterson ended the game.
Khoury had made his presence known earlier in the day as he sent the first pitch he saw over the fence in right to give the Judges a1-0 lead after one. It was his second home run of the season. Khoury later walked, advanced to second on a groundout and third on a wild pitch before classmate CF Dan Frey (Ipswich, Mass/Ipswich) chased him home with a two-out hit to left center in the third.
Judge sophomore Greg Tobin (Medway, Mass./Catholic Memorial) notched a career-high eight strikeouts through the first three innings, including a pair with two on in the first and the side in a 1-2-3 third. The lefty, who was charged with the first three runs, yielded five hits and four walks in four-plus innings.
WPI junior catcher Austin Lindner drove in the first of the Engineer runs with a single to right in the bottom of the fourth. Larson, who allowed two runs on five hits and three walks and struck out three, then helped his own cause with a three-run home run to left in the fifth. With two outs and Linder on first, junior 2B Benjamin Chaffee greeted the second reliever of the frame with a first-pitch triple for the 5-2 WPI advantage.
The Judges capitalized on a passed ball to make it 5-3 in the top of the sixth. WPI added two more in the home half as Gallagher and Howard connected on back-to-back home runs to center. Brandeis sophomore RF Dan O'Leary (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) drove an RBI single to center with a pair of outs in the seventh; however, Gallagher answered for the home team with a run-producing hit to center.
For WPI, Howard batted 3-for-4 with a pair of walks, RBI and runs scored while Gallagher finished 2-for-4 with a pair of walks and RBI, and three runs scored. Patterson also had a pair of hits for WPI.
For the Judges, Rookie 1B Isaac Fossas (Dudley, Mass./Milton Academy) went 3-for-4 while Frey and O'Leary each added a pair of hits and an RBI for the guests. Khoury bookended his day with a home run and a single.
On the hill for the Engineers, Sophomore Kyle Wood pitched the sixth, classmate Nick Colucci took the seventh and eighth. Juniors Dominic Fusco and Tyler Weiss handled the ninth.
For Brandeis, rookie Mason Newman (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle), senior Bradley Bousquet (Athol, Mass./Athol), sophomore Kyle Shedden (Spencer, Mass./David Prouty) and junior Daniel Schupper (Villanova, Pa./Harriton) all saw time on the mound.
Brandeis (1-6), who already has its weekend doubleheaders with Clark and Wentworth on hold, looks to return to action Wednesday at home versus Rhode Island College at 3:30 p.m. WPI (6-5) is slated to host Mass. Maritime Saturday for two beginning at noon.