The men's baseball team has struggled to find its offense in games away from Stein Diamond, resulting in a 3-10 record in games away from home. This past week was no easier for the Judges, as the team dropped all four of its road games, including a pair of late-inning losses to Trinity College on Sunday afternoon.

With the four losses, the Judges fall to 13-19 overall, just a .406 winning percentage. Although the team's offense averages more than four runs scored in every home game, it is only averaging three runs in away games.

In the opener of Sunday's twin bill at Trinity, the Judges offense handed pitcher Kyle Brenner '15 an early lead. With runners on first and third and one out in the top of the second inning, catcher Connor Doyle '16 hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Brenner from third base and giving the Judges a 1-0 lead.

From there, Brenner threw a gem, allowing just one hit between the third and sixth innings. In the bottom of the seventh, however, Brenner was tagged for an unearned run before wiggling out of a two on, two out jam.

The Judges stormed right back in the top of the eighth inning, using an RBI double from left fielder Brian Ing '14 to regain the lead.

Though the Judges had jumped back in front, Trinity tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff home run. The home run gave Trinity all the momentum they needed, sitting down the Judges in order in the top of the 10th inning before walking off with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame.

Brenner took the hard-luck loss for Brandeis, striking out seven batters over 9.2 innings.

Doyle, who had one hit on the game, saw a problem in the Judges' inability to string hits together.

"I just think we have to make the most of our opportunities with runners on base," he said. "I think we would be a better team if we could get a bunch of hits together and get runners on and get some runs across the plate."

In the second game, the Judges used a three-run fourth inning to jump out to a lead but once again could not secure the win in late innings. Brenner, second baseman Dominic Schwartz '14 and Doyle all had RBIs in the three-run third, punctuated by Brenner's RBI double.

Starting pitcher Colin Markel '14, who gave up three runs on six hits over six innings, was removed for relief pitcher Liam Coughlin '17 for the bottom of the seventh inning. Coughlin was plagued by a suddenly weak defense, allowing the bases to be loaded on a single and a pair of errors committed by the Judges.

With nobody out and the bases loaded, Trinity needed just one batter to get the single they needed for the 4-3 victory over the Judges.

"When we do the little things we are a very successful team," said pitcher James Machado '16. "When we do not do the little things, we lose close games like we did against Trinity."

Doyle said the team's large number of extra-inning games and difficult schedule have both contributed to their late-inning struggles.

"It's mostly focus," he said. "We've gotten into a couple long games with extra innings, [so] I think it's a mental thing but we've also got some new guys in the lineup. I think it's mostly being able to bear down [and get out of an inning.]"

Earlier in the week, the Judges had no better luck finding their offensive stroke. On Friday, the team traveled to Salve Regina University and could not keep up with the offense in an 8-2 loss. Just a day before that, the team dropped a 2-0 decision to Daniel Webster College. The Judges were able to get a walk off win of their own, however, defeating Curry College 6-5 in 10 innings in a home game last Tuesday.

Designated hitter Cameron Shaw '15 smashed a home run in the top of the eighth inning in Friday's loss at Salve Regina, and third baseman Greg Heineman '16 followed with an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning, but the six-run deficit was too much for Brandeis to overcome. Machado gave up one run in 2.2 innings of relief.

Starting pitcher Elio Fernandez '15 pitched seven strong innings against Daniel Webster, striking out four batters but allowed both runs in the 2-0 loss. Center fielder Sam Miller '16 and shortstop Brian Allen '15 both had two hits for the Judges.

In the home win over Curry, second baseman Rob Trenk '15 laid down a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the 11th inning, allowing Brenner to score and handing the Judges a 6-5 win. Brenner, who picked up the win with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, began the inning with a double to the center field gap.

The Judges conclude their home season with Senior Day today with a game versus Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 3:30 p.m.
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