CLEVELAND, Ohio– The Brandeis University baseball team split their doubleheader today against Case Western Reserve, losing the first game 7-2 and winning the second 2-1. The Judges' record stands at 10-4, 1-2 in the University Athletic Association, while the Spartans' record stands at 12-11, 5-2 in the UAA.
In the first game, the Spartans started the game off hot. They scored three runs in the second inning off an RBI single from second baseman Trey Haley, a sacrifice fly from shortstop Jacob Lott, and an RBI double from third baseman Zack Carinci. The game stayed 3-0 in favor of the Spartans until catcher Jack Anderson doubled into right-center to bring Lott home. Carinci singled in the next at-bat to increase the lead to 5-0.
Graduate center fielder Dan Frey (Ipswich, Mass. / St. John's Prep) got the Judges on the board with a double in the sixth inning, bringing home graduate first baseman Mike Khoury (E. Bridgewater, Mass. / E. Bridgewater). The Spartans responded in the sixth with an Anderson RBI triple and a Carinci RBI double, their second and third RBI of the day, respectively. Brandeis junior third baseman Brian King (Palos Verde, Calif. / Palos Verde) rounded the scoring out with an RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
Senior starter Marc Maestri (Katonah, N.Y. / Somers) took the loss for the Judges, moving his record to 2-1 on the season. Maestri gave up eight hits, six runs (three earned), two walks, and five strikeouts before sophomore reliever Sean Decker-Jacoby (Los Angeles, Calif. / Vistimar) came in in the bottom of the sixth to finish the game, giving up three hits, one earned run, two walks, and one strikeout. Starter Evan Faxon got the win for the Spartans, improving his record to 4-0 on the season and giving up four hits, one earned, one walk, and ten strikeouts. Sankalp Doshi entered in the top of the seventh to finish the game and earn the save, giving up one hit, one earned run, two walks, and three strikeouts.
In the second game, scoring was a lot more limited. Brandeis junior left fielder Sam Nugent (Mansfield, Mass. / Mansfield) broke the tie in the top of the third with an RBI sacrifice fly. Khoury followed up with an RBI single the next at-bat. That was enough for Brandeis starter Asher Kaplan (Jamaica Plain, Mass. / Boston Latin). Kaplan took a one-hit shutout into the bottom of the fifth when Lott hit an RBI single, bringing in right fielder Cole Jarrett for the Spartans' only run of the game.
The score remained 2-1 in favor of the Judges into the ninth inning. After back-to-back hits down the right-field line put runners in scoring position, Kaplan intentionally walked pinch hitter RJ Christie to load the bases with one out. Kaplan ended the game by getting the final two Spartan batters to pop out to first base.
Kaplan's win moved his record to 1-0 for the season as he gave up six hits, one (unearned) run, two walks, and two strikeouts in his complete-game effort. It was the second complete game of Kaplan's career. Starter Nick Denove took the loss for the Spartans, moving his record to 0-3 on the season and giving up six hits, two earned runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. Denove was followed by Andrew Allen for ⅓ of an inning, Tyler Horvath for one inning, and Matthew DuBois for one inning to end the game.
The Judges are back in action tomorrow for the final game of the series against Case Western Reserve at 1 p.m.
--by Benton Ferebee '22