Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (April 18, 2009) – After dropping a one-run game in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader, the Vassar College baseball team saw Skidmore College coast to a 20-7 victory in the second game at Castle Diamond on Saturday. The Brewers nearly pulled out the win in the first seven-inning game, but stranded two runners in the top of the seventh as Skidmore pulled out a 5-4 win.

The Brewers fall to 5-18, 2-12 in the Liberty League while the Thoroughbreds improve to 16-13, 7-7. The two teams will square off for another doubleheader tomorrow, April 19, beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Vassar's Prentiss Field.

Game One
A solid start from freshman John MacGregor carried the Brewers into the sixth inning of the seven inning game with a 3-2 lead. In five innings of work, MacGregor scattered 12 hits while allowing just one earned run with five strikeouts to one walk.

However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Skidmore welcomed freshman reliever Dennis Tario with three runs off two hits. Matt Pisani gave the Thoroughbreds a 4-3 lead with a one-out two-run triple, and a sacrifice fly from Zack Rudman scored Pisani for what proved to be the game-winning run. Tario took the loss, his first decision of the season.

The Brewers threatened in the top of the seventh, as junior short stop Ari Glantz and freshman third baseman Sal Costanzo knocked out back-to-back one-out singles. An RBI base hit from sophomore second baseman Joe Castilla scored Glantz to draw Vassar within a run. However, with the tying and winning run on base, senior reliever Tom Gruber got two swinging strikeouts to end the game and earn his first save of the season. Senior starter Ed Reilly earned the win to improve to 3-3, pitching six and one third innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, with six strikeouts and one walk.

After the Thoroughbreds got on board first with a run in the bottom of the second inning, the Brewers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, pounding out three doubles. Junior outfielder Adam Murphy led off the inning with a double, and a one-out double from sophomore first baseman Joe Bubar scored Murphy. Continuing the trend, a two-base hit from Glantz scored Bubar. Although Skidmore tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, Vassar plated another run in the top of the fifth to regain the lead, as a fielder's choice RBI from Castilla scored Glantz, who also reached on a fielder's choice.

Although both teams hit well, they struggled to produce runs, as the Brewers scored four runs off 11 hits, while Skidmore had five runs off 14 hits. Nearly half of Vassar's hits were doubles, as Bubar, Glantz, Costanzo, Murphy, and sophomore catcher David Ringold all had two-base hits. Bubar led Vassar with a 3-for-4, one RBI, one run effort. Costanzo was also 3-for-4, while Glantz was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs, and Castilla had two RBIs.

Game Two
Glantz started the Brewers off strong in the second game, blasting a two-run homer – his first career round-tripper – to spot Vassar a quick 2-0 lead after the first half inning. The Thoroughbreds tied the game in the bottom of the inning, but the Brewers came right back to regain the lead in the top of the second as sophomore catcher Mike Plude knocked out a leadoff double and came in to score on a sacrifice fly from senior outfielder Zack Miller.

Again, Skidmore responded, this time with six runs on two hits, giving the Thoroughbreds an 8-3 lead. Although the Brewers plated two in the top of the fourth off an RBI triple from Costanzo and an RBI groundout from Castilla, it was as close as Vassar would come and a seven-run seventh inning put the Thoroughbreds firmly in control.

Vassar again hit well, but struggled to manufacture runs, as it had 12 hits in the loss. Plude went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Glantz had two hits, two RBIs and a run. Costanzo and Murphy also added two hits and Miller had two RBIs, including a solo home run, his second of the season.

Vassar sophomore starter Daniel Berkowitz (0-5) took the loss in one and two-thirds inning, allowing seven earned runs on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Sophomore Trevor Brucato pitched eight innings to earn the win for Skidmore, allowing 12 hits and seven earned runs with three strikeouts and no walks.