April 28, 2004 

WALTHAM, MA - The Amherst College baseball team fell 4-3 at non-league foe Brandeis University on Wednesday, thanks in part to an obstruction call on a botched squeeze bunt attempt in bottom of the ninth inning. Amherst sophomore Zach Schonberger (Rye, NY) drilled his third round-tripper in the last two days in the loss. 

With the bases loaded and the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Brandeis called a suicide squeeze that never materialized. Recognizing the bunt, Amherst reliever Rob Anderson (Winnetka, IL) steered a fastball away from the strike zone, leaving Brandeis base runner Lars Borssen (Wells, ME) in a pickle between third and home. Borssen made contact with an Amherst infielder during the ensuing rundown, however, and the Jeffs were called for obstruction, allowing the winning run to score for Brandeis. 

Amherst managed just four hits in the loss and just one against Brandeis starter Paul Ramsdell (Wakefield, MA), who pitched 6.2 strong innings but left two runners on board in the seventh for reliever Bryan Lambert (Auburn, ME). Schonberger torched Lambert for a three-run shot that gave the Jeffs a short-lived 3-2 lead. The Judges would battle back for a run in the eighth and another in the ninth to seal the win. 

Amherst used four pitchers, and Anderson dropped to 0-1 with his first decision of the season. Sophomore Joe Vladeck (Washington, DC) drew the start and surrendered two runs in four innings. Rookie Dan Schwartz (New York, NY) and senior Duncan Webb (Lynn, MA) each tossed a pair of innings in relief. 

Amherst (12-14) returns to action with a key three-game set this Friday and Saturday at NESCAC West Division rival Middlebury College. The Jeffs can clinch a berth in the four-team NESCAC Tournament with a pair of victories. 

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