Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 22, 2009) – Despite out-hitting its opponent nine to seven on the day, the Vassar College baseball team dropped a 7-4 decision to Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday at Prentiss Field.

Vassar lost its sixth straight game, and is now 5-21, 2-14. The Brewers will look to get back on track with home double headers against the University of Rochester on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Stevens is now 13-17, 3-7. The Ducks had lost nine of their last 11, and will host Utica for double headers on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

Stevens jumped out to an early lead, scoring five runs in the first three innings and knocking Vassar starter senior Jeremy Pollack out after two and a third innings. Pollack, who made his second career start, picked up the loss for Vassar and is now 0-1 on the season.

Vassar responded with one run in the third inning when sophomore first baseman Joe Bubar hit a two-out RBI triple off the fence. The Brewers threatened again in the fourth inning loading the bases with no outs, but Duck starter Jeff Hart escaped nearly unscathed, giving up just one run on sophomore catcher Mike Plude's sacrifice fly before inducing an inning-ending double play.
Anthony Andrews gave the Ducks a five-run lead with a two-run home run off freshman reliever Zachary Prudoff in the sixth inning, the last inning in which Stevens scored. Prudoff pitched 3.1 innings and gave up just those two runs on two hits, while sophomore Daniel Berkowitz came in to pitch the final three innings, and gave up no hits and no walks. Berkowitz sent the Ducks down in order in the seventh and ninth innings, and the only Stevens base runner in the eighth reached on an error.

Vassar, however, was unable to string together hits and advance runners. Bubar's triple was the only extra base hit for the Brewers all day. Vassar manufactured a single run in the sixth inning when junior shortstop Ari Glantz walked, stole second, advanced to third on a balk, and was singled home by sophomore second baseman Joe Castilla, but another double play ended the Brewers threat. In the eighth inning, Glantz again was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a throw, and scored on a Castilla single. But once again, a double play ended the inning.

Only five Vassar players had hits on the day. Bubar went 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Castilla was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, while junior centerfielder Adam Murphy and sophomore leftfielder Devon Luongo also added two hits apiece. Only five Ducks had hits as well. Andrews led the way, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs, senior first baseman Dan Silva went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and freshman third baseman Chris Cuotros was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Hart pitched four innings and picked up the win to improve to 1-0, giving up two earned runs on four hits. Junior Joe Finora pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.