No. 21 Western New England Falls to Brandeis in Home Opener, 7-4

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 22, 2016) - The Brandeis University baseball team plated three runs in the top of the tenth inning to earn a 7-4 victory over No. 21 nationally ranked Western New England University this afternoon in non-conference action at Trelease Park.
 
Playing at home for the first time this spring, the Golden Bears (8-1) rallied from a pair of late deficits to force extra innings, before suffering their first setback of the season. Brandeis improves to 6-8 with the win.
 
Senior second baseman Eduardo Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela), who was named the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Player of the Week earlier today, led the Golden Bears at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a walk, a double and two RBI. Senior shortstop Kevin Marciano (Pepperell, Mass.) also recorded two hits out of the leadoff spot, as did junior first baseman Daniel Morin (Salem, N.H.).
 
Sophomore righthander Jake Kawiecki (Burlington, Conn.) got the start for Western New England, but did not factor into the decision after giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits in 4.2 innings. Senior lefty Tom Mahoney (Granville, Mass.) came on in relief and struck out five batters, holding the Judges to just two hits and one run over 3.1 frames, while junior Jacques Boilard (Brimfield, Mass.) took the loss after working the last two innings.
 
The Golden Bears were hampered by five errors and also struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, stranding 14 men on base over the course of the contest.
 
Senior Ryan Healy (Carlsbad, Calif.) powered the Brandeis offense with a 3-for-5 effort, recording a walk, a triple, two RBI and two runs. Classmate Liam O'Connor (Avon, Conn.) also finished with three hits and two runs, while senior Cam Shaw (East Setauket, N.Y.) added two hits and one RBI.
 
In addition to his work at the plate, Healy earned the win on the mound after limiting the Golden Bears to just one unearned run over 3.2 innings. Junior Liam Coughlin (Townsend, Mass.) got the start for the Judges and allowed three runs on five hits over 6.1 frames.
 
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Western New England rallied to tie the score. Senior catcher Matt Calzone (Middlebury, Conn.) was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Marciano followed with a double down the left field line, putting two runners in scoring position. Colmenares delivered an RBI single two batters later, plating Calzone, and Morin drove in Marciano later in the frame with a sacrifice fly. The Golden Bears pulled even when freshman Alex Loparco (Riverside, Conn.) drew a two-out, bases loaded walk, but missed an opportunity to take their first lead when the next batter struck out.
 
Healy put the Judges back in front in the top of the eighth, driving in O'Connor with a single to left field, but the resilient Western New England offense erased the deficit in the bottom half of the inning on Colmenares' two-out RBI double.
 
After neither team was able to score in the ninth, Brandeis utilized a pair of errors to push across three runs in the tenth. Boilard retired the first two batters that he faced, but an error kept the inning alive. The Judges capitalized on the miscue, as Healy singled and senior Connor Doyle (Avon, Conn.) drove in the go-ahead run with a single through the left side of the infield. The visitors added some insurance as senior Max Hart (Montville, Conn.) came up next and doubled to left center, plating two more runs with the help of another Western New England error.
 
The Golden Bears will look to bounce back tomorrow, when they make the two-mile trip to face crosstown rival Springfield College at 3:30 p.m. Brandeis is also right back in action tomorrow afternoon at WPI in Worcester, Mass.