A bounce back victory for New York University's baseball team opened the Violets' University Athletic Association (UAA) series at Brandeis University on Friday afternoon in Waltham, MA.
NYU snapped its three-game skid with a comeback, 13-12 triumph over the Judges to open a four-game set between the two sides this weekend. Each Violet who stepped up to the plate recorded a hit and nine drove in at least one run in what became a slugfest at Stein Diamond.
The Violets started strong in this one, plating four runs in the top of the first on two-run doubles from both
Cam Dunn and
Jacob Singer. Brandeis answered immediately in the bottom half, however, scoring five of its own including a two-run homer from Victor Oppenheimer.
"After the first inning we stressed that you have to play all 27 outs," said Head Coach
Doug Kimbler. "Fortunately, that's what we did today."
A solo shot off the bat of
Alex VanLandingham in the third tied things at five, but the hosts responded with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead (7-5).
Zane Baker ripped an RBI double in the fourth to bring NYU within one before a scoreless fifth inning for both teams. The Judges' bats came alive in the sixth though, producing another five-run frame to take a sizable, 12-6 advantage entering the seventh.
The Violets didn't falter as reliever
Joe Cetale, who finished the sixth on the mound, held Brandeis scoreless in both the seventh and eighth innings. Meanwhile, VanLandingham delivered a sac fly in the top of the seventh and
Dakota Barbet,
Ryan Carr and
Grant Berman each had an RBI in the eighth to cut NYU's deficit to 12-10 heading into the final frame.
Ninth inning heroics prevailed for NYU as
Richard Beggy singled home Dunn to make it a one-run game. Berman then reached on an error for another tally before
Nick Argenziano walked to bring in the go-ahead run with two outs.
John Gassler came in to pitch the ninth for the Violets and earned his second save of the year, allowing just one baserunner via error and completing the comeback with a swinging strikeout.
Carr and Singer both had three hits as the only Violets with more than one in the game. Singer, Dunn and VanLandingham each drove in two runs. Cetale got the win on the mound (2-1), tossing 2.2 innings while allowing six hits, two runs and a walk.
NYU and Brandeis continue the series with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at noon in Waltham.