Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 13, 2009) – Behind an impressive complete-game performance from freshman starting pitcher Scott Allen, the Vassar College baseball team defeated cross-town rival SUNY New Paltz, 7-3, in non-conference action at Prentiss Field on Monday. Allen went the distance for the Brewers, earning his first collegiate win as he allowed no earned runs and just six hits, with four strikeouts and five walks.

The Brewers improve to 5-15 while the Hawks fall to 7-13. These two teams will face off again on Wednesday, at New Paltz at 4:00 p.m.

After the Hawks got on board first with a run in the top of the second inning, the Brewers quickly responded in the bottom of the inning as freshman third baseman Sal Costanzo led off by reaching base after being hit by a pitch. He advanced to third on a one-out double from sophomore catcher Mike Plude, and came in to score on a single from freshman shortstop Liam Lee. With Plude on third, the speedy Lee stole second and a two-out single from junior outfielder Adam Murphy scored both runners.

In the fourth, the Hawks loaded the bases with no outs, but Allen induced a double-play groundout. Although a run scored on the play, to draw New Paltz within one run, 3-2, Allen struck out the next batter swinging to end the inning with minimal damage.

The Brewers provided Allen with some support in the fifth, as Lee led off with an infield single. After Lee nabbed his second bag of the game to advance to second, a single from senior designated hitter Zack Miller scored Lee for what proved to be the winning run. A bunt single from Murphy moved Miller to second and a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt from freshman outfielder Joe Coniglio moved the runners. A groundout RBI from sophomore first baseman Joe Bubar scored Miller and gave the Brewers a 5-2 lead.

Allen held the Hawks at bay in the next two innings, and Vassar added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh as Murphy and Coniglio recorded one-out base hits and sophomore second baseman Joe Castilla scored both runners with a base hit.

New Paltz threatened in the ninth, scoring an unearned run after Zach Homerda reached on an error with one out and scored on a Philip Parker single. However, Allen got a pop out from the next batter, and a game-ending fielder's choice to secure the win.

Although three Vassar errors led to three runs, the Brewers also turned three double-plays on the day. Murphy led the Brewer bats, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored as the bottom half of the lineup accounted for seven of Vassar's nine hits. Lee went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs, while Castilla had a hit and two RBIs.

No New Paltz player had more than one hit against Allen. Freshman Timmy Chelius took the loss for the Hawks to fall to 1-3.