What began as a promising trip to Florida for the Brandeis University baseball team ended in disappointment, as the team lost five consecutive games after winning four of its first five.During the trip, the Judges stopped at Sanford before venturing to Daytona Beach, where they battled rainy weather as well as difficult opponents. Brandeis defeated UAA foes Case Western Reserve University (twice), Emory University and the University of Rochester. Head Coach Pete Varney' s squad then fell to Washington University and Rochester, as well as non-conference foes Cortland State University, Rochester Polytechnic Institute (twice) and Missouri Baptist College.

"I believe the margin of error against the teams at the end of our trip was much smaller and we simply didn't play up to our ability, and that is why we lost," Captain Tom McShane '04 said.

The Judges came into Florida with very high expectations. The 2002 team was one of the best in the history of a strong Brandeis baseball tradition. That squad captured a UAA title for the first time since 1997 and earned a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament. Last season, the Judges returned from Florida with a 7-4 record. This year, they expected to fare similarly well.

"The general consensus on the team is disappointment. We always expect to win every time we step onto the field and if we leave the field with a loss, it is very disappointing. We don't expect to go undefeated, but five losses in a row is definitely frustrating," McShane added.

Despite the string of defeats late in the trip, the Judges learned a great deal from their experience in the Sunshine State.

"We learned a lot about ourselves on the trip and can now focus on improving in areas that hurt us. We know that our pitching staff is good enough to keep us in most games. We are not a team that is going put up 10 runs often, so whoever is in the lineup on any given day has to do the little things that will allow us to score enough runs for our pitchers," catcher Sean Ewers '04 said.

In the games the Judges won, they scored an average of 5.75 runs, while giving up just 2.25. But in their losses, Brandeis scored only 1.83 runs per game and surrendered 4.83, meaning that they generally pitched well enough to win but did not provide their pitchers enough run support. The Judges left Florida with a team batting average of .235 and 4.50 team ERA.

"We have a ton of ability, we were just missing key hits here and there. At this point in the season the pitchers are always ahead of the hitters, but that will change," said outfielder Andrew Kahn '04.

"Baseball is a battle of confidence, and I think that in our last two games our hitters started regaining last season's form with runners getting on, and players coming up with clutch hits. Of course, if our offense continues to produce two, three, or four runs per game, our defense needs to be spectacular," added Kahn.

Ewers is leading the Judges with a .357 batting average, with Kahn second at .320. McShane pitched better than his 4.91 ERA and 1-1 record would indicate and Tim Dunphy '06 showed considerable promise during his bullpen appearances.

"(What) really impressed me was his composure on the mound. He knows what he can do and doesn't try to do too much at once. He lets the game come to him and is not easily rattled," Ewers said.

The Judges (4-2 in UAA action and 4-6 overall) host Salve Regina University Sunday.