Gulls Walk-Off Against Brandeis Via Five-Run Ninth, 9-8

BEVERLY, Mass. – For the second straight game, the Endicott baseball team produced another 9-8 walk-off win, this time against Brandeis University on Tuesday evening at North Field.

Trailing 8-4 headed into the bottom of the ninth, the Gulls used three straight singles and a bases loaded walk from Kyle Brennan (Wallingford, Conn.) to get the rally started.

Matthew Robida (Chester, Conn.) followed with a pinch-hit two-run single up the middle, while a fielding error allowed another run to score and set the stage for the walk-off victory.

This time, Matthew McKinley (Hudson, N.H.) was the walk-off hero for the Gulls as the junior shortstop laid down a perfect safety squeeze down the first baseline to plate Robida from third and send the Endicott bench sprinting onto the field for its second consecutive contest at home.

Max Tarlin (Sharon, Mass.) was credited with the win on two shutout innings out of the pen, while Brandeis reliever Christian Tejada (Providence, R.I.) took the loss via one-third of an inning (1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Gulls walked off against Stevens on Sunday via an identical 9-8 score behind a Brennan homer.
• Nickolas Perkins (Nashua, N.H.) recorded his second career sacrifice hit in the five-run ninth to put runners at second and third with one out. His sacrifice bunt led to putting runs eight and nine into scoring position, and the eventual win. Both of his sacrifice hits have come this season.
• John Duffy (Stratford, Conn.) went 3-for-4 with one run scored and three RBI. He has now produced eight multi-hit games and two multi-RBI contests in his career.
• Endicott trailed 6-0 after three full innings of play. It's the largest deficit the Gulls have overcome this season.
• Endicott also ended Brandeis' five-game winning streak.
• Today was the first time all season that Brandeis has not scored 10 or more runs in a contest.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (2-3) hosts MIT on Saturday, March 7 at 1 PM. Brandeis (5-1) takes on Bowdoin this Saturday at 12 and 2 PM. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - Chris Lyons '22)