WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Brandeis University baseball team dropped a doubleheader today as the Judges made their first trip to Eastern Connecticut State University since 2003. Brandeis suffered a 2-0 loss in the opening pitchers' duel before falling in a slugfest, 10-5, in the second game.
In the first game, Brandeis sophomore Albert Gutierrez (Miami, Fla. / Belen Jesuit Prep) tossed a complete game and allowed just two runs on six hits, striking out two and walking none. ECSU starter Jordan Muchin was even better, though, giving up just four singles over seven innings, fanning seven and no walking a batter.
The Warriors got all the runs they would need in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by D.J. Scavone, while Jake LeFevre plated an insurance run in the fifth. Brandeis got one runner past second base in the contest, when rookie Luke Hall (Georgetown, Mass./Georgetown) led off with a single. He was erased on a fielder's choice but classmate Scott Ziegler (Avon, Conn./Avon Old Farms) stole second and moved to third on an infield grounder, but Muchin got a strikeout to end the scoring threat.
Brandeis got two hits from sophomore Dan O'Leary (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) and one from DH Alex Parrott (Nashua, N.H. / Nashua South) but that was it for the contest. Scavone was ECSU's only multiple hitter.
In game two, the Judges jumped on Eastern Conn. starter Nicholas Kraszewski in the first inning, as sophomore SS Victor Oppenheimer (West Hills, Calif./Chaminade) drew a two-out walk and rookie Dan Frey (Ipswich, Mass./St. John's Prep) followed with a home run to stake the visitors to a 2-0 lead. The blast was Frey's second of the season.
After Brandeis sophomore Jackson Carman (Naples, Fla./Naples) retired the side in the first, ECSU exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second. The Warriors had just four hits in the inning, but three walks and a three-run home run by Alex Parkos put the hosts on top, 6-2.
The Judges responded with three runs in the third, as rookie 3B Mike Khoury (E. Bridgewater, Mass./E. Bridgewater), Oppenheimer and Frey all delivered RBI, the last with a one-out double. Brandeis was unable to push the tying run across, however, and a trio of ECSU relievers held Brandeis to just two hits over the final four innings. The Warriors tacked on three runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to account for the 10-5 final.
Frey was the big hitter for the Judges, finishing 2-3 with a run, three RBI, a home run and a double. Khoury added two hits, an RBI and a run scored, while Ziegler contributed a double. Parkos led Eastern Conn. with four RBI, adding a sacrifice fly to his home run. DH Collin Russell went 3-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Drew Alexopoulos picked up the win for ECSU, tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit and struck out three. Carman suffered the loss in the first start of his college career.
Brandeis (2-8) returns to action on Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at Salem State University, while Eastern Conn (7-4) hosts Johnson and Wales tomorrow at 1 p.m.