Baseball | 2/25/2013 11:37:00 AM

Box Score Click here for game stats

WINTER HAVEN, FL - The RIT baseball team let a 5-2 eighth inning lead slip away, as Brandeis scored four runs in the the bottom of the inning to hand the Tigers a 6-5 loss in their 2013 season opener at Chain of Lakes Park as part of the RussMatt Baseball Classic on Sunday afternoon.

The two teams combined for 27 hits. Senior captain Brian Brazee (Auburn, NY/Auburn) led the Tigers by going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and two runs batted in.

RIT scored two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth, and one in the eighth inning. The Judges, down 5-2 in the eighth, roared back to take the lead on a bases-clearing double by Chris Ferro. From there, closer Kyle Brenner shut the door on the Tigers in the ninth to finish the win for Brandeis.

Ethan Humbert (Rose, NY/North Rose-Wolcott) allowed three earned runs, while scattering 13 hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out three batters. Tyler Leichtenberger (Warren, PA/Warren Area) allowed the bases clearing double to Ferro and was charged with the loss.

In addition to Brazee's big day, Greg Schowrm was 2-for-3 with a double and run batted in, while Tyler Ramotar (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) also had two hits and a run batted in. Skip Flanagan (Framingham, MA/Bishop Feehan) was 2-for-5, while Walt Roman (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) doubled, was hit by a pitch#, and scored two runs.

Liam O'Connor was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Rob Trenk was 2-for-4 with two runs scored for Judges. Craig Rothberg picked up the win in relief, allowing three hits and a run over two innings.

The Tigers are right back in action on Monday, with a contest vs. Farmingdale State College, which gets underway at 10 a.m.