Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

SCHENECTADY, NY (May 2, 2009) – The Vassar College baseball team dropped a pair of Liberty League games on Saturday, as Union College picked up the doubleheader sweep at Central Park Field. The Dutchmen put together 11 runs in the final three innings to pick up a 14-4 win in the opener, and the Brewers dropped a tight 6-4 loss in the second game.

Vassar falls to 5-28, 2-20 in the Liberty League while Union improves to 12-19, 6-13. The Brewers will look to even the series on Sunday as they host the Dutchmen for the final doubleheader of the season, beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Game One
For the second game in a row, errors hurt the Brewers, as the Dutchmen scored nine unearned runs on five Vassar errors. Although the Brewers took a 4-3 lead into the fourth inning, the Dutchmen scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead, and added three in the fifth and six in the sixth, while holding the Brewers scoreless for the remainder of the game.

The lead changed hands three times during the first four innings before Union grabbed the advantage for good in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs and the bases loaded, head coach Dave Dagostino elected to pinch hit with Shawn Johnston. The move paid dividends as the senior singled through the right side to score two runs, both unearned, and give Union a 5-4 lead.

The Brewers were unable to make a comeback against Matt Sheehan, who picked up the complete game win. Sheehan allowed seven hits and four runs, just one earned, while striking out seven and walking just one to improve to 2-4. For Vassar, freshman John MacGregor took the loss, pitching four and two third innings. He gave up nine hits and eight runs, four of those unearned, while striking out four with one walk.

The Brewers quickly took the lead in the first inning as sophomore first baseman Joe Bubar reached on an error, and then came home on a double from junior shortstop Ari Glantz. The Dutchmen took the lead in the bottom of the second, as the first two batters reached base on errors, and came around to score on a home run from Nicholas Ranali. Vassar regained the lead with three runs in the third. A two-out single from Glantz got things started, as the speedy junior then scored on a base hit from freshman catcher Sal Costanzo. After Costanzo advanced to second on a passed ball, the next batter, sophomore second baseman Joe Castilla reached on an error, scoring Costanzo. The Brewers picked up their final run of the inning as a Devon Luongo single scored Castilla, but it was Vassar's final lead as Johnston's single in the fourth put Union ahead for good.

Glantz and Luongo led the Brewers with two hits, one double, and an RBI apiece. They were the only Brewers with multiple hits as Union outhit Vassar, 14-7.

Game Two
Union never trailed in the second game, but the Dutchmen never held a lead greater than two either. Union held a 3-1 lead after four innings, and though the Brewers scored one run apiece in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, the Dutchmen matched them with one run in the bottom of each inning to maintain its edge.

The Dutchmen did most of their damage with the long ball, as they hit three doubles and three home runs, all solo shots. Home runs from Johnston and Paul Mene in the fourth inning proved crucial in giving Union slight breathing room and though Vassar drew within one run in three consecutive innings, the Dutchmen responded in the bottom of each inning.

Colin McKelligan went eight innings, striking out four to earn the win, before being replaced by sophomore Jeremy LeFebvre who earned his first save of the year.

Sophomore Daniel Berkowitz threw 7.1 innings and struck out three in the loss, allowing six earned runs on nine hits. Freshman Zachary Prudoff supplied two-thirds innings of relief.

Senior outfielder Zack Miller led Vassar with two hits and a double while seven other Brewers added one hit with Costanzo contributing two RBIs and a double, and Luongo adding an RBI.