In the midst of a three-game losing streak, the baseball team turned to its ace, co-captain Tyler Robinson '08, to get on track. Robinson delivered, firing a complete game, seven-strikeout effort in the Judges' 5-3 win at Springfield College last Sunday in the second game of a doubleheader. "I can't say enough about [Robinson's performance]. He threw really well today; we needed that win," catcher Artie Posch '10 said. "[Robinson] had all his pitches working today. . His slider was effective, and he was locating his fastball pretty well too."

The Judges lost the first game of the doubleheader by the same 5-3 margin and also fell 8-7 at Framingham State College 8-7 last Thursday and 5-4 at Babson College in 10 innings last Wednesday. They are now 9-7 this season.

In the second game of the doubleheader last Saturday, Springfield erased a 3-0 deficit, tying the game on a two-run sixth inning double by senior outfielder Rex Cone.

In the next inning, Springfield threatened to take the lead with a runner on second base and only one out, but Robinson was able to get out of the jam, inducing a pop out to second base before recording a strikeout.

"Our pitching theory is basically late in the game, with guys on base, if you're going to get beat, you need to get beat with your best pitch," assistant coach Bryan Lambert said.

The offense, held scoreless since the third inning, responded in the top of the eighth with two runs to put the Judges ahead for good. Designated hitter Pat Nicholson '11 scored from third base on a sacrifice by outfielder Tony Deshler '11, and shortstop Malcolm Cone-Coleman '08 scored from second base on the next at-bat when center fielder Mike Alfego '09 reached base on an error.

"We have to capitalize on other teams' mistakes late in the game, and we happened to do that today," Nicholson said.

The first two Springfield runners reached base in the bottom of the inning, but Lambert's confidence in Robinson never wavered.

"We never even had a guy in the bullpen. Basically the game was on his shoulders," Lambert said.

Robinson didn't disappoint, inducing two fly outs to the outfield and a pop up behind home plate to end the game. Posch called a series of outside fastballs to help his pitcher escape unscathed.

"[Robinson] being a lefty, with the way the ball is naturally going to move-away from a right-handed batter-makes it harder to hit," Posch said.

The first four hitters in the order-Alfego, second baseman John O'Brion '10, third baseman Drake Livada '10 and right fielder Dave Almeida '09-combined for six of the team's eight hits in addition to scoring three runs and delivering three RBIs.

"We were jumping on first pitches, not waiting around, [and were] swinging the bat. If you don't wait around, [and you] get up there and hack, it's easier to hit," Alfego said.

Brandeis jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first game of the doubleheader on an RBI single from Livada '10 but could not hold it. Springfield scored four unanswered runs off Judges starter Rocco Toppi '08 to take a 4-1 advantage in the third inning.

Toppi, who had pitched five shutout innings in his last start April 1 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, lasted only 2 2/3 innings against Springfield.

"[Toppi] threw the ball pretty well. There were just some situations where the opposing players swung the bat in key situations and hit the ball pretty well," Lambert said. "[Toppi] gave it his all, he just didn't have everything. I'm sure he'll be fine in his next start."

Brandeis cut the deficit to 4-3 on a sacrifice fly from Posch and a Nicholson RBI groundout in the top of the sixth inning, but Springfield scored in the bottom of the inning to increase the lead to two runs.

In the top of the seventh inning, Brandeis had runners on first and second base with two outs, but O'Brion grounded out to second base to end the game.

The Judges play at Tufts University today at 3 p.m. and at Worcester Polytechnic Institute Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. before hosting Bridgewater State College Friday at 3:30 p.m. The team also plays Keene State College in New Hampshire Saturday at 1 p.m.