WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University baseball team fell victim to NYU first baseman Colman Hendershot today, as the junior went 4-5 with three home runs and a double with seven RBI in the Violets 12-7 University Athletic Association victory. With the loss, the Judges fall to 2-19 on the season, 0-9 in the UAA. NYU improves to 23-7, 3-6 UAA.
Hendershot delivered an RBI double in his first at-bat in the first inning. Brandeis got two runs back in the bottom of the frame. Second baseman Tommy Sand (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor) scored on a single by DH Scott Ziegler (Avon, Conn./Avon Old Farms) and an error in the outfield. Ziegler scored two batters later on a Dan Frey (Ipswich, Mass./St. John's Prep) sac fly.
Hendershot tied the game up in the fourth with a solo home run, then hit a three-run blast in the fifth to give the visitors a 7-2 lead. His third blast in the sixth inning with one on made the score 10-2 and made Hendershot the first NYU player with three homers in a game since the program was reestablished in 2014.
Brandeis didn't go quietly, scoring four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to get within 10-6. Third baseman Mike Khoury (East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater) drove in a run with a double, the only extra-base hit of the frame. NYU tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth and ninth, while Brandeis's Dan O'Leary (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) blasted his first collegiate in the ninth inning to make the final 12-7.
O'Leary finished the day as the Judges' top hitter, going 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI and a walk. Khoury went 2-5 with an RBI and a double as six different Judges drove in runs and eight had hits.
In addition to Hendershot's big day, catcher Scott Hilbrandt drove in two runs for the Violets, while shortstop Francis Prior was 1-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
On the mound, Brandeis starter Greg Tobin (Medway, Mass./Catholic Memorial School) suffered the loss for Brandeis, allowing 10 hits and nine runs (eight earned) in 5.1 innings. He falls to 1-4 on the season. NYU's Cam Seralilio-Frank improves to 8-0 on the campaign with 6.2 innings of work, giving up nine hits and six runs (two earned).
The Judges and Violets will play twice tomorrow starting at noon, followed by a single game on Sunday at 11 a.m.