Box Score MEDFORD - Junior pitcher Tim Superko went seven strong innings in the first game and senior SSMatt Moser hit a clutch two-run double in the second game as the Tufts baseball team swept a double-header over Brandeis University on Saturday.
The Jumbos won game one 10-2 as Superko allowed four hits and two runs with nine strikeouts. Moser went 2 for 3 with a run and two rbis in the nightcap, a 5-4 win. The seven-inning games were the first at home on Huskins Field for Tufts this spring.
Brandeis greeted Superko with a run on two hits in the first inning of game one. Connor Doyle singled through the left side, scoring Liam O'Connor who had walked to lead off the game. The Judges stranded three that inning, and Superko would retire the next 13 batters in order.
Brandeis starter Rylan Pocock was equally effective early. He did not allow a hit until the fourth inning when Moser led off with a walk and scored on a double to left field by sophomore 1B Mike McLaughlin tying the score.
Tufts would add three runs after two were out in the fifth to lead 4-1. After freshman catcher Eric Schnepf led off with a walk, a single by Moser, a double by sophomore 3B Tommy O'Hara, and a single by McLaughlin all scored runs.
Brandeis' Benjamin Bavly would end Superko's run of retiring hitters with a lead-off triple in the sixth. Greg Heineman followed with a single through the left side scoring Bavly and making it a 6-2 game. However, Superko would get the next three outs, including one on a pick-off.
The Jumbos blew the game open with six in the bottom of the sixth. O'Hara hit a two-run single and other rbis came off the bats of Moser, McLaughlin, and sophomore DH Dan Kelly.
McLaughlin went 2 for 4 with three rbis out of the five-hole for Tufts, while O'Hara finished 2 for 3 with three rbis and two runs. Moser scored three times while finishing 1 for 2 with two rbis. Sophomore Christian Zazzali went 2 for 2 with a run and Schnepf scored twice.
Bavly was the only hitter in Brandeis' line-up with two hits in game one. Pocock took the loss allowing four hits and four runs with five strikeouts and four walks in 4.2 innings.
The Jumbos built a 5-0 lead in game two, including three runs in the first inning. O'Hara and McLaughlin were back at it with a two-run single and an rbi double, respectively. The Jumbos added two more in the fourth when senior CF Cody McCallum led off with a walk, junior RF Oscar Kutchsingled, and Moser scored both with a double.
Tufts would end up needing all of those runs. Jumbo starter Speros Varinos cruised through the first four innings allowing just one hit and two walks. However, two Tufts errors in the fifth led to four unearned runs by the Judges. Heineman had an rbi single in the middle of it. Jumbo sophomore Ian Kinney entered in relief and stranged Judges on second and third by recording the final out of the inning.
Kinney and freshman R.J. Hall retired the final seven batters for the Tufts win, with Hall picking up a save.
Moser finished 2 for 3 with a two rbis and a run in game two. McCallum was 2 for 2 with two runs at the top of the order. Kutch and McLaughlin also had two hits. Varinos earned his fourth win, allowing six hits and four runs (none earned) with three strikouts and two walks in 4.2 innings.
Senior Max Hart was 2 for 3 for Brandeis. Miller went the distance for the Judges, giving up nine hits and five runs with four K's and three walks in six innings.
Tufts (11-3) returns to Huskins tomorrow for a single game against Framingham State at 1:30 pm. Brandeis (8-12-1) is at Bowdoin tomorrow for a pair starting at noon.
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