Brandeis baseball may not be as stirring as a Yankees-Red Sox confrontation, but the Judges gave fans something to get excited about as they gave a glimpse into what their season may have in store.Winning their first three games in Waltham this season after three weather postponements, the Judges topped visiting Salve Regina College 5-2 on Wednesday, visiting Springfield College 2-1 on Thursday and host Bentley College 6-3 on Friday.

The Judges visited Western New England College yesterday in a game that ended too late for this edition.

The team's offense led the way against Bentley on Friday, as the Judges scored three early runs in the top of the second inning and built a 6-0 lead.

Third baseman Jeff Bourdon '07 and designated hitter Dan Lavin '05 combined for seven hits to lead Brandeis. Bourdon had four hits, including two doubles, and Lavin drove in three runs.

"The win was big because they're a division up on us [Bentley plays in Division II]," left fielder Steve Simolaris '07 said. "It's always good to beat our city rival. It gives us a lot of confidence to beat a team like Bentley."

Pitcher Craig Letendre '08 earned the win for Brandeis, allowing five hits and three runs in six-and-two-thirds innings. Captain Bryan Lambert '05 closed out the game for the Judges, notching his fourth save of the season with two-and-one-third scoreless innings.

"He can shut the door because he throws really hard," captain and pitcher Aaron Landes '05 said. "It's good to know as a starting pitcher that you can go until the sixth and seventh and then give it over to somebody who is basically un-hittable."

Lambert's recent success as a closer comes after a difficult stint as a starting pitcher for the first half of last season. He has been a closer all season, and the move has paid off tremendously for the Judges this year.

While the offense broke things open for the Judges against Bentley, it was more stellar pitching that beat Springfield on Thursday.

Tyler Robinson '08 and Lambert combined to hold Springfield to six hits, striking out nine and walking two. Bourdon produced the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth, with a line drive single that shot past the Pride's drawn-in infield. This was sweet redemption for Bourdon, who failed to drive in the go-ahead run in a similar situation in the sixth inning.

"I felt a little bit of pressure," Bourdon said. "But really, it was like any other at-bat. I was just trying to go up there, get a base hit, and get the job done."

Pitcher Tim Dunphy '06 was the star of the home opener against Salve Regina on Wednesday, allowing only five hits in seven innings. Five different Judges drove in runs, including Golden, who went 2-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. The Judges clinched the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when center fielder Chris Navis '05 drove in Bourdon on an infield chopper to break a 2-2 tie.

Team captain Landes believes that the Judges' recent win streak will help to boost their ever-improving team chemistry.

"We are a very close team," Landes said. "Most of the starters this year were the starting players last year, so we gelled really well already. These three straight wins are just going to help that."

The Judges play five consecutive games this week, starting with a home game against Nichols College today at 3:30 p.m.