Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, FL (March 17, 2010) – Behind a masterful relief pitching performance from sophomore Race Bottini and a 20-hit output offensively, the Vassar College baseball team earned its first win of the season, 13-9 over a talented Salem State College team on Wednesday at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

The Brewers improve to 1-2 and will conclude their Spring Break trip to Florida with a 10:30 a.m. matchup against Gallaudet University tomorrow. The Vikings drop to 2-3.

“We played awesome today against a really talented and athletic team,” said head coach Jon Martin. “To bounce back after a bad day yesterday [a 15-5 loss to Sewanee University] against a team as good as Salem State speaks to how talented we can be. This is how we should play every day.”

Entering the game in the sixth inning with his team trailing 8-6, Bottini had the strongest performance of his collegiate career, allowing just one run on seven hits with two strikeouts and no walks to earn his first collegiate win.

“Race came in and kept us in the game against a very good team,” said Martin. “He was throwing against some really big hitters and he had an incredible performance.”

Helping Bottini's cause was a big eighth inning in which the Brewers scored four runs including the go-ahead run. After the Brewers scored a run in both the sixth and seventh innings and the Vikings scored one in the seventh, Vassar entered the eighth trailing 9-7. Sophomore Sal Costanzo drew the Brewers within one with an RBI single, freshman Conor Gallagher tallied the tying and winning run with a two-RBI double, and senior Adam Murphy capped the four-run inning with an RBI single to give Vassar a 11-9 lead.

The Brewers – playing as the visitor – tacked on two more runs in the top of the ninth inning and Bottini held off Salem State in the bottom of the inning for the win. Bottini got some help from his defense, as freshman shortstop Michael Perrone made a spectacular diving stop to start a 6-4 game-ending double play.

“Perrone dove to snag the ball in the air, transferred it to the other hand and flipped it to [sophomore second baseman] Liam Lee to complete the double play and end the game,” described Martin. “It was a great way to end such an impressive game.”

Perrone also had a strong day offensively, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base, while Murphy was 4-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases. Junior first baseman Joe Bubar went 3-for-6 with two RBI and one run scored, junior outfielder Devon Luongo was 3-for-5 with a stolen base, and Lee and Costanzo added two hits apiece. The Brewers had 20 total hits and six stolen bases on the day.

“We had a great defensive day, and 20 hits obviously speaks for itself,” said Martin. “I'm so pleased with how we bounced back today and showed how good we can be.”

Although the Brewers jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings, the Vikings tacked on three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to take an 8-5 lead, chasing sophomore starter Dennis Tario. Tario pitched five innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and three walks.