Judges play small ball to defeat Rochester, 10-7, in UAA action

SANFORD, Fla. -- The Brandeis University baseball team scored 10 runs on 12 hits - all singles - thanks to five sacrifice bunts and two stolen bases, as the Judges defeated the University of Rochester, 10-7, in a University Athletic Association (UAA) contest in Sanford, Fla.

Brandeis (3-0) was paced at the plate by rookie LF Tony Deshler (Pepperell, Mass.), who went 3-6 with five RBI and two stolen bases. Deshler drove in runs in four of his six plate appearances, including his first collegiate RBI on a ground out in the second inning and a two-run single in the fourth. He also had RBI singles in the sixth and ninth innings.

Junior 1B Nick Gallagher (Southboro, Mass.) went 2-2 with two RBI, three runs scored and a sacrifice bunt. He also reached base twice after getting hit by a pitch. Gallagher's RBI on a suicide squeeze in Brandeis's four-run ninth inning proved to be the game-winning run. Sophomore SS John O'Brion (Portland, Maine) and sophomore catcher Artie Posch (Hopedale, Mass.) each had two hits, while senior Chuck Sheehan (Lexington, Mass.) drove in two runs without a hit, one coming on a dropped fly ball in the second and another on a second squeeze play in the four-run ninth.

Senior Tyler Robinson (Manotick, Ont.) picked up the win on the hill by scattering eight hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out four without allowing a walk. Junior James Collins (So. Boston, Mass.) retired four of the five batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings, while rookie Pat Nicholson (E. Walpole, Mass.) was touched up for three runs in the ninth inning of his collegiate debut before successfully closing out the game.

Rochester (5-1) suffered its first loss of the season after winning their first five. The Yellowjackets got hits from eight of their nine starters, led by senior SS Ed Kahovic (Victor, N.Y.). Kahovic went 3-4 with a two-run home run in the ninth inning that got UR back within three runs after entering the frame behind, 10-4. Senior CF Dave Kloc (Pittsford, N.Y.) went 2-3 with two runs scored and the game's only other extra-base hit, a lead-off double in the fourth inning that led to Rochester's second run of the game. Junior Paul Toland (So. Weymouth, Mass.) suffered the loss by allowing six runs (four earned) is six innings of work.