Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 30, 2008) -- In the first Liberty League games of the season for Vassar's baseball team, No. 15 Rensselaer defeated Vassar in a doubleheader today at Marist College's McCann Field. Redhawks senior left-hander Joe Zongol shut down the Brewer bats in an 8-2 win victory in the first game, and RPI won an offensive showdown 11-7 in the second.

Game One

After a scoreless first, Rensselaer picked up two quick runs to open the second inning. Leftfielder Camden Mamigonian (Dover, NH/Dover) led off with a double against Vassar starting pitcher Dan Orme (Cambridge, MA/Cambridge Rindge & Latin) and was driven in on a single from first baseman Ken Carroll (Shelton, CT/Fairfield Prep). The Hawks would later add a second run on a Brewer fielding error.

Vassar came back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Brewer senior Mike Murn (Huntington, NY/Harborfields) hit a slow roller up the middle that plated sophomore Adam Murphy (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood). Vassar tied the score on the same play, with freshman shortstop Joe Castilla (Weston, FL/Archbishop McCarthy) coming around on a throwing error.

The Brewers, however, could not touch Zongol (Flowermound, TX/Southington) for any more runs. The southpaw struck out nine batters and allowed just four singles in his complete game seven-inning win.

RPI took the lead for good in the top of the fourth, picking up three runs on three straight hits and a wild pitch. The big hit was an opposite field double from senior catcher Steve Slusher (Pedricktown, NJ/Penns Grove). The Hawks tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh, starting with a leadoff triple from centerfielder Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic General) and ending with an RBI triple from Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute).

Orme pitched well in the complete game loss. Taking on one of the nation's top teams, the senior right-hander scattered 11 hits in seven innings. He allowed six earned runs, struck out two and walked one.

Game Two

RPI jumped out to a 8-0 lead to open the second game. Wilkes went 3-3 with three runs scored in the first three innings. Reardon drove in four runs on the strength of two doubles, a single and a sacrifice fly. Junior third baseman Jim Devine (Castleton, NY/Columbia) scored three runs in the first six innings.

After being blanked by Hawks starter Tim Klein (Westwood, NJ/St. Joseph Regional), the Brewers got on the scoreboard with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Castilla lead off with a single up the middle, and scored on an RBI double from fellow freshman David Ringold (Seattle, WA/ Ballard). Catcher Mike Plude (Shelton, CT/Notre Dame Catholic) added a sacrifice fly, and designated hitter Clancy Philbrick (Stonington, CT/The Williams School) chipped in an RBI single.

After RPI expanded their lead to 10-3 in the top of the seventh, the Brewers again engineered a rally, scoring another three runs in the bottom half of the inning. The big hit for Vassar was a two-run double from second baseman Ari Glantz ) Cambridge, MA/Cambridge Rindge & Latin). The Brewers loaded the bases with two outs, bringing the tying run to the plate but Redhawks reliever Andrew Novick (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) ended the threat—and the Brewers chances of a game-tying rally--by inducing a popout.

Wilkes paced the Hawks offense in the second game, finishing with four hits, three runs scored and an RBI in six plate appearances. He added a stolen base.

For the Brewers, Glantz and Philbrick each picked up two hits and two runs batted in.

The two teams will meet up again on Wednesday for a doubleheader to be hosted by RPI in Troy, NY.