SANFORD, Fla. -- Brandeis University senior LF Ben Dashefsky
(Massepequa, N.Y.) threw out the winning run at the plate with two
out in the bottom of the ninth today as the Judges defeated
Washington University, 4-3, in University Athletic Association
(UAA) play.
Brandeis (4-1, 3-1 UAA) never trailed in the game thanks to
sophomore DH Mike Alfego (Shrewsbury, Mass.), who got on base in
four of his five plate appearances and scored all four times. In
the first inning, the Judges loaded the bases without a hit, as
Alfego worked a lead-off walk and scored on a single by senior 2B
Jeff Bourdon (No. Adams, Mass.). Washington (12-3, 2-2 UAA) got out
of the inning on a double play as rookie catcher Artie Posch
(Hopedale, Mass.) lined out to right field and Dashefsky was thrown
out trying to tag up.
The Bears tied the contest in the third. Senior 2B David Kramer led
off with a single and scored without another hit. He reached second
on a bunt, stole third and came home on a sacrifice fly by senior
CF Andy Shields.
Brandeis reclaimed the lead in the fifth as Alfego singled and
moved to third on a base hit by Dashefsky. Alfego scored his second
run on a sac fly by senior LF Jon Winston (Nanuet, N.Y.). The
Judges took a two-run lead in the seventh when Alfego led off with
a double and scored on Dashefsky's single.
WashU got the run back in the bottom of the frame, as Shields
ddubled with one on and one out to put runners at second and third.
Senior 1B Eddy Hoering plated sophomore RF Zander Lehman, who had
reached on a fielder's choice that erased Kramer, with a sacrfice
fly.
Alfego led off the top of the ninth with his second double of the
game. He came home with a crucial run on an RBI by Winston, his
team-leading 10th of the season. In the bottom of the inning,
facing Brandeis sophomore closer James Collins (So. Boston, Mass.)
retired the first two batters with ease on a comebacker to the
mound and strikeout. WashU didn't go quietly, however, as Lehman
followed with a single. Shields answered with a shot down the
first-base line that sophomore Nick Gallagher (Southboro, Mass.)
made a nice stop on, but his flip to Collins covering was wild,
putting runners on second and third. Hoering followed with his
single to right field that brought in Lehman, but Posch blocked the
plate as Dashefsky's throw was right on the money to end the
game.
Alfego had a fine offensive game, going 3-4 with a pair of doubles
and all four Brandeis runs scored. Dashefsky and Posch were the
only other multiple hitter with two base knocks each, while Winston
led the way with a pair of RBI. Junior Craig Letendre (Acushnet,
Mass.) scattered seven hits over six innings of work to earn his
first win of the season. Letendre allowed one earned run, striking
out two and walking two. Collins earned his second collegiate save.