Rob Ballinger (Fr., South Kingstown, R.I.) keyed a fourth-inning rally with a two-run single to give streaking Johnson & Wales their fourth win in their last five games, a 6-3 win over Brandeis today at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex. 

The Wildcats, now 12-10, quickly fell behind, 2-0, in the early going as the Judges (11-15) scored a pair of unearned runs off Ryan Cabral (So., Scituate, R.I.).  But as the Wildcat defense stiffened behind Cabral, the JWU bats erupted for six runs in the next three innings and chased a trio of Brandeis pitchers. 

Ballinger, who had three RBI on the day, first grounded out in the bottom of the third to score Kory Ferullo (Sr., Rochester, N.H.) from third.  Then, in the fourth, after Ferullo scored his second run in as many innings on a sacrifice fly by Joe Walsh (So., Sayville, N.Y.), Ballinger struck again with a base hit to left, plating Mike Davlos (Fr., North Milford, Conn.), who walked and stole second, and Brandon Cesino (So., Scituate, R.I.), who singled Davlos to third, then stole second himself.  The Wildcats ended the fourth inning ahead, 4-2.

Jordan Pilarski (Jr., Garnet Valley, Pa.) doubled and scored on a misplayed double steal to make it 5-2, setting up Cesino's second base hit on the day, a run-producer that scored Tom Elkow, who enjoyed another multiple-hit day.  Pilarski, meanwhile was to finish the afternoon with a pair of doubles and a single in a three-for-four afternoon that raised his average nearly 30 points to .314. 

Over the past three weeks, the Wildcats have improved their record to 12-10, and have raised their team batting average from .234 to .283.  Their 11 hits against the Judges was their third straight game with more than ten hits. 

Cabral, who pitched the first six innings, struck out three and evened his record at 1-1.  He and relievers James Harlow (Sr., Bristol, Conn.) and Nick Cesino (Jr., Scituate, R.I.) retired seven straight until the ninth, when closer Bryan Quinlan (So., Pawtucket, R.I.) allowed a leadoff single but induced three harmless fly balls to Ferullo in center to end the game.  The save was Quinlan's third of the year. 

Freshman Ryan Pocock, shortstop Nick Falkson, and outfielder Ryan Healy each had two hits for the Judges.  Liam Coughlin, the second of five Brandeis pitchers, was tagged with his fourth loss of the year after pitching the Wildcat fourth.

JWU now readies for its Great Northeast Athletic Conference showdown with front-running St. Joseph's College of Maine on Thursday afternoon at the Miracle-Gro Complex.  The first game of the doubleheader starts at 3pm.