Baseball Comeback Comes up Short in Northern Opener

WALTHAM, Mass. – Freshman Matthew Motiwalla (Orange, N.J.) recorded three hits and drove in three runs to help pace the Brandeis University baseball team (3-6) to a 7-4 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A leadoff single from Brandeis senior Steven Simon (Hanover, Mass.) was followed by a double from freshman Alex Kim (Basking Ridge, N.J.). Simon attempted to score on the play, but was thrown out after a wide turn around third base. Kim scored the first run on an RBI single from senior Sam Nugent (Mansfield, Mass.) and Nugent scored on an RBI single from sophomore Justin Keeler (Seymore, Conn.). Motiwalla had a two-run single to give the hosts a 4-0 lead after one inning.
• With two outs in the second, the Judges added to their lead as Simon, who drew a one-out walk, stole second, and went to third on a walk, scored on a wild pitch.
• Wentworth got on the board in the top of the seventh, as, with one out, graduate student Nolan McManus (Milton, Mass.) reached on a two-base error. With two outs, McManus came arounds to score on a freshman Mike Sibert (Billerica, Mass.) RBI single. The bottom of the inning saw Brandeis score twice to take a 7-1 lead as Motiwalla had an RBI single and the Judges scored on a wild pitch.
• The Leopards mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth inning, scoring three times to pull within three. Freshman Matt Robinson (Mystic, Conn.) led off with a triple and scored on a junior Matt Rice (Scottsdale, Ariz.) RBI single. Rice advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a Sibert single. Sibert went to third on a senior Aaron Lundgren (Portsmouth, N.H.) single and scored on a wild pitch. However, a flyout ended the comeback attempt.
• Sibert went 2-for-4 at the plate, driving in two runs. Six other student-athletes recorded hots, including Rice who also had an RBI. On the mound, senior Brandon Sullivan (Quincy, Mass.) took the loss, tossing the first four innings. Sophomore Brady Aubuchon (Westminster, Mass.) pitched three innings, while junior Brodi Farinas (Lewiston, Maine) pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today was the 23rd all-time meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth opens up Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Saturday at home against Salve Regina.

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