The baseball team began a 13-game homestand last week, completing a stretch of five games in 6 days with a 2-3 record, which leveled the team's record out at 10-10 for the season. The team started the week on a high note, but fatigue took its toll last Sunday as the Judges faltered against Framingham State University in an afternoon double-header.Brandeis' offense was shut down by the Rams in the team's second game, earning only one hit-a single by Tony Deshler '11 in the first inning. Colin Markel '14 was tagged with the loss, giving up 3 runs, 1 earned, in 4 2/3 innings of work as the Judges lost 4-0.

The first game between the two was even worse for Brandeis, as Framingham State handed the team an 18-3 loss, Brandeis' worst defeat of the season. Pitcher Dylan Britton '13, coming off a domineering performance earlier this week, was shelled and only lasted one inning.

In the bottom of the first inning, after Britton was tagged for 4 runs, the Judges showed some signs of life. Catcher Chris Ferro '13 brought in a runner from second on a well-placed single and a routine grounder by first baseman Pat Nicholson '11 was overthrown by the Rams' shortstop, leading to two more runs. From there, however, the Rams kept pouring in the runs, and the Judges were shut down the rest of the way.

Shortstop Dominic Schwartz '14 was disappointed with the team's performance.

"We definitely had the potential to beat these teams and our squad is really coming together as a whole, but our main problem is that we're still making a lot of fundamental mistakes both offensively and defensively," Schwartz said. "If we can just cut down on these fundamental errors and correct our mechanics, we can get a lot more wins."

Last Thursday, in the team's third game in as many days, the Judges exploded for a season-high 12 runs and 14 hits in a 12-6 rout of Salve Regina University. John McGrath '11 pitched seven strong innings, ceding only one earned run while adding eight strikeouts, earning his third win of the season.

Brandeis jumped out to a quick start with five runs in the second inning. Outfielders Nick Cortese '13 and Tony Deshler '11 and Schwartz all contributed RBI singles, while Sean O'Hare '12 drove in two more with a crushing double. The third inning played out almost the same as the Judges delivered four more runs, again with RBI singles by Cortese and Schwartz as well as a two-run double from O'Hare.

Last Wednesday afternoon was a different story as Brandeis had a classic low-scoring duel with the Wentworth Institute of Technology before losing 5-4 in extra innings. Michael Swerdloff '13 started for the Judges with a solid performance, giving up three runs in seven innings of work.

Brandeis relied on the small ball for much of the game, only recording one extra-base hit through 10 innings of play. The game was tied at three after nine innings before Wentworth went in front on a two-run double in the top of the tenth. Third baseman Jon Chu '12 hit an RBI single to make it a one-run game, but it was as close as Brandeis would get, and the team lost 5-4.

The Judges started off the homestand with a commanding 8-3 victory over Salem State University. Britton scattered three runs, only one of them earned, through seven solid innings while also notching seven strikeouts.

In the first inning, Chu launched a sacrifice fly and first baseman Eric Rosenberg '11 belted a two-run single to jump out to a 3-1 lead. In the fifth, the Judges gave Britton all the support he needed with RBI singles by Chu and Nicholson, as well as back-to-back RBI doubles by Rosenberg and Cortese. Dylan, Brian Ing '14, and Alex Tynan '12 all pitched well in relief to cement the 8-3 victory.

Schwartz was positive about the team's progression through the season. "We've been playing well for the most part lately and I think we're getting better as the season goes on," he said. "Once again, if we improve on some basic aspects and become more consistent, we can rack up victories."

Brandeis faces Suffolk University tomorrow at 3 p.m.