WALTHAM, Mass. – Suffolk baseball came out of a three-run hole slowly before a four-run seventh inning, which included a three-run dinger from Tim Brigham, and finesse relief pitching from Worth Walrod anchored the Rams to a 7-3 victory over Brandeis at Stein Diamond Thursday afternoon.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 7 | Brandeis 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-6-1) | Brandeis (8-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Judges jetted out to a one-run lead that turned into a 3-0 Brandeis ball game after the first two full innings.
Suffolk started its comeback in the top of the third with a sac fly from Will Hopkins that brought in Zack Aresty, who took advantage of bobble by the Judges shortstop to reach base.
Two innings later, no outs and Rams' runners on second and third Rich Gilbride's run on a 463 double play trimmed the distance to one, 3-2.
Things locked up at 3-all in the top of the sixth behind back-to-back base hits from Suffolk. This time, the scoring got going with two outs on the board as Trevor Lee kept the inning going with a single to left field and swiped second to get into scoring position. Steve Shamonski followed Lee's single with one of his own to center to bring in the game-tying run.
All the excitement came in the seventh. Gilbride wore a pitch to reach base, stole second, and advanced to third when Hopkins was hit by a pitch. Rik Jhamb's inconsistency on the hill continued and ball in the dirt let Gilbride score the game-winning run. Suffolk's scoring continued when Brigham banged the ball out of the park and brought in Cormier and Hopkins with him to turn it into a 7-3 Rams score.
Walrod handled things in the seventh and eighth, respectively, to keep Suffolk out in front. In the ninth, the senior southpaw faced gave up a single and walk, but the Rams' defense backed him up with a fielder's choice, a swinging strikeout and foul out to right field to lead Suffolk back to the win column.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Walrod earned the victory, his first of the season, after throwing 5.0 innings of scoreless relief with one hit and two walks allowed to go with eight punchouts, two of which were looking.
- Tyler Zell started the day on the bump. The RHP let up three runs on three hits and four walks and had one strikeout to his credit over 4.0 innings.
- Five different arms took the mound for the Judges.
- Jhamb suffered the setback after giving up two runs, one earned, on one walk in 0.1 innings of action.
- Greg Tobin earned the nod and limited Suffolk to three runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks with all four strikeouts to his credit over the 6.0 innings of action.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Lee was the lone Rams with a multi-hit performance as the second baseman went 2-for-4 with one stolen base to score one run.
- Brigham's only hit of the outing went over the fence to bring in three runs and the designated hitter scored one himself.
- Gilbride accounted for two runs scored.
- Hopkins, and Shamnoski each produced one hit.
- Cormier, Hopkins and Aresty all scored one run.
- Gilbride swiped two bags and Hopkins had one steal.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk defeated Brandeis for the first time since 2010.
- The Rams and Judges renewed a rivalry, meeting for the first time since 2011.
- Suffolk and Brandeis competed for the first time in the Anthony Del Prete era.
- Birigham went yard for the second time this season.
- Brigham had a career-high three RBI.
- Walrod sat down a season-best eight hitters for his first win of the year.
- Lee had his second multi-hit game of the season.
POST-GAME PIC
WHAT'S AHEAD?
Suffolk turns its attention to GNAC action this weekend when it entertains Norwich Sunday, March 24 at East Boston Memorial Park. The doubleheader with the Cadets is set for a 1 p.m., game one first pitch.
