Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 27, 2010) – With two close games that came down to the final inning, the Vassar College baseball team opened its Liberty League season with a doubleheader split against Skidmore College on Saturday at Prentiss Field. The Brewers took the first game in walk off fashion, 4-3, and the Thoroughbreds broke a tie in the ninth inning of the second game for an 8-5 victory.

The Brewers (5-4, 1-1) and the Thoroughbreds (8-4, 1-1) will meet up for another doubleheader tomorrow at Skidmore beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Although Skidmore outhit Vassar, 20-7 on the day, errors plagued the Thoroughbreds as they committed four in each game with just four of Vassar's nine total runs earned. Skidmore also took advantage of Brewer errors in the second game, with four of its eight runs in the second game unearned.

Game One
Heading into the bottom of the seventh and final inning in the first game, Skidmore held a 3-0 lead behind junior starter Nick Laracuente's one-hitter, but some clutch Vassar hitting combined with two costly Skidmore errors led to a walk off 4-3 Brewer victory.

Senior outfielder Ari Glantz drew a leadoff walk to start the seventh and sophomore outfielder Sal Costanzo kept things going with a single to leftfield to move Glantz to second. A groundout from freshman third baseman Conor Gallagher advanced both runners and a sharp single down the leftfield line from junior outfielder Devon Luongo scored both runners to draw Vassar within one, 3-2, chasing Laracuente from the game.

Sophomore Zack Rudman moved from first base to the mound for the Thoroughbreds and got a strikeout from his first batter to record the second out. Rudman hit the next batter, junior second baseman Joe Castilla bringing freshman shortstop Mike Perrone to bat. An errant pickoff throw to first during Perrone's at-bat scored Luongo from second to tie the game and moved Castilla, the winning run, to third. After Perrone hit a grounder to second base it appeared as if the game was headed into extra innings, but a fielding error allowed everyone to reach safely and Castilla to race home with the walk off run.

Both teams had strong pitching performances from their starters. Sophomore Dennis Tario went the distance and improved to 1-0 with his first collegiate win, allowing three earned runs on nine hits with two walks and a strikeout. Despite having his one-hitter shutout broken up in the seventh, Laracuente still had a strong line, with three earned runs on three hits and four strikeouts to just one walk. Rudman took the tough-luck loss, his first decision of the season, allowing no hits and no earned runs, with one strikeout.

The Thoroughbreds took a 2-0 lead in the third inning as senior third baseman Adam Cornachione drew a leadoff walk and senior second baseman Jeremy Goldman followed him on base with a single up the middle. A perfectly placed sacrifice bunt from senior outfielder Spencer Marcus moved the runners to second and third, and senior shortstop Anthony Ferri took advantage with a two-run single to right field. Skidmore added another run in the top of the seventh, as Ferri hit a two-out single and came home on a double down the leftfield line from sophomore outfielder Brian Lowry.

Skidmore had nine hits in the game, paced by a 4-for-4, one run, two RBI effort from Ferri, while Lowry went 2-for-4 with an RBI. For Vassar, Glantz, Costanzo, and Luongo had one hit apiece.

Game Two
Heading into the top of the ninth inning with the game tied 4-4, it was the Thoroughbreds who capitalized on a Vassar miscue to win the nightcap, scoring four unearned runs. Freshman starter Lawrence Flicker got two outs to start the inning, but a fielding error allowed Marcus to reach and start a big inning for Skidmore. A Ferri double down the leftfield line moved Marcus to third, and Vassar intentionally walked Lowry, loading the bases for Rudman. Rudman took advantage of the situation with a two-RBI single to centerfield, chasing Flicker and bringing sophomore Race Bottini in to pitch for the Brewers. Senior designated hitter Matt Pisani greeted Bottini with a long double to leftfield, clearing the bases and giving Skidmore an 8-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Although the Brewers scored a run in the bottom of the ninth as freshman outfielder Sean Morash reached on a fielder's choice, eventually scoring off an RBI groundout from sophomore designated hitter Liam Lee, Vassar could not replicate its heroics of the first game.

The Brewers struck first in the bottom of the first as Perrone was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and came around to score on a two-out standup triple from Costanzo.

However, the Thoroughbreds answered with three two-out runs in the top of the third. Ferri started the rally with a double to right center, and Lowry followed him on base with a walk. An RBI single from Rudman scored Ferri to tie the game and moved Lowry to second. Lowry stole third and came home on a wild pitch and after Pisani walked, Rudman came home during a rundown between first and second.

The Thoroughbreds added another run in the top of the fifth as Marcus knocked a leadoff double to right center and scored on an RBI double from Lowry. Vassar quickly responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, again taking advantage of Skidmore miscues. Castilla hit a one-out double through the left side and scored with two outs when what looked to be an inning-ending fly ball to right field turned into an error that allowed Perrone to reach. Perrone reached third on a passed ball and junior first baseman Joe Bubar followed Perrone on base after a catcher's interference. Glantz capitalized on the opportunity, scoring Perrone and Bubar with a deep double to left center, tying the game at four runs apiece.

Flicker took the loss to fall to 1-1, allowing four earned runs on ten hits with four walks and a strikeout in 8.2 innings of work. Staffuti earned the win, to improve to 1-1, allowing just one hit and no earned runs in one inning. Skidmore junior starter Trevor Brucato went seven innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

Glantz, Costanzo, Luongo, and Castilla accounted for Vassar's four hits, with Glantz adding two RBI. For Skidmore, Rudman was 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs, while Ferri was 3-for-5 with two runs.