Box Score Toups Goes 2-For-3 With One RBI In The Win
WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Behind the strong eight-inning performance of freshman pitcher Eric Brodkowitz, the Yale baseball team handled in-state foe Trinity College on Tuesday afternoon, 6-2, on a cloudy day at Yale Field.
Brodkowitz (Potomac, Md.) picked up his second win of the season, allowing just two runs and seven hits in eight innings of work, while striking out seven batters. In six of eight innings, the freshman right-hander faced four batters or less, proving efficient in his fourth start of the season.
The Bulldog (10-18, 2-10 Ivy) offense was able to muster enough run support to help Brodkowitz, with the help of seven wild pitches and four walks by Trinity hurlers. Senior David Toups (Houston, Texas) went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and one run scored to lead the Elis, improving his season batting average to .309.
A pinch-hit, two-RBI single by sophomore Derek Brown (Houston, Texas) in the seventh inning gave Brodkowitz some breathing room, extending Yale's lead to 5-2. Senior Robert Baldwin (Austin, Texas) and freshman Mikey Sliepka (Houston, Texas) each added a double in the victory.
"My mindset is the same going into every game. My mindset is to pitch to win the game and to the best of my ability," said Brodkowitz after the win. "I want to throw strikes and trust my defense."
Freshman pitcher Mason Kukowski (Katy, Texas) finished things up for the Bulldogs in the ninth, retiring the Bantams in order to seal the win. It was Kukowski's team-high 16th appearance on the mound this season.
Brodkowitz held the Bantams scoreless in the final six innings of his outing, but the Elis led only 3-2 in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Brown pinch-hit for sophomore Harrison White (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) and smacked a grounder up the middle to score Hsieh and Slenker, making it 5-2.
A leadoff double by Sliepka in the eighth inning resulted in the freshman scoring from third on a wild pitch by Trinity's Daniel Pidgeon, giving Yale one more insurance run with a 6-2 lead.
Trinity scored in the first inning off Brodkowitz when Bryan Wolfe hit an RBI single, scoring Evan Abraham. Wolfe went 4-for-4 in the game for the Bantams.
The Bulldogs answered in the bottom half, scoring two runs by way of an RBI single by Toups and an RBI groundout by Baldwin. Trinity tied the score in the second inning when Scott Huley hit an RBI single to left field.
That is when Brodkowitz shut down the Bantams. The first-year pitcher allowed just three hits over the next six innings, while only one Trinity runner reached third base in that stretch.
"Coming off this past weekend, I know that I have good stuff and I have confidence in all my pitches," said Brodkowitz. "I know I can get people out with my pitch selection and today just reinforced that. If I pound the zone, I'll be effective."
The Bulldogs scored one run in the third inning when Toups scored on a wild pitch, following his leadoff single. The Yale captain reached second on a passed ball and tagged-up going to third on a deep fly by Baldwin.
Trinity starter Rob Gau gave the Bantams five solid innings on the mound, allowing three runs and three hits while striking out six in his outing. Gau picked up the loss for Trinity.
With the win, Yale earned its first home victory of the season, while snapping a four-game losing skid in the process.
The Bulldogs return to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon when Sacred Heart visits Yale Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and the game can be followed on live stats or on @YaleBaseball on Twitter.
Filed by Steve Lewis, Yale Sports Publicity
