Box Score

LOUDONVILLE, NY (May 9, 2014) – The Vassar College team responded from Thursday afternoon's loss to Union College with a 4-2 victory over Clarkson University in an elimination game of the Liberty League Tournament, hosted by Union College at Siena Field.

With the victory, Vassar College ties the all-time program record for wins in a season with 19. Also, the win keeps the season going, as the Brewers will now play this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. against the loser of the 1 p.m. game with Union and the University of Rochester.

The Brewers (19-13) got on the board first with three runs in the top of the first, posting four straight singles in the frame. Sophomore Brooks English (Milton, MA/Milton Academy) singled with one out, and moved to second on a Brett Zaziski (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) base hit.

Sophomore Nick Johnson (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius) loaded the bases with a knock, and Jason Garfinkel (Encino, CA/Harvard-Westlake) drove two in with a single up the middle. Vassar added its third run of the frame thanks to a sacrifice fly from sophomore catcher Cory Wuenschell (Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon).

The Golden Knights plated a run in the bottom of the third, as David Wixted scored on ground ball from Matt Jenack. Vassar freshman lefty Trent Berg (Milton, MA/Boston College) worked out a bases-loaded jam, fanning two straight hitters to keep the score at 3-1.

Clarkson would again pack the bags in the bottom of the fifth inning, but once more Berg was able to get out of the bind, as Tim Beninati flew out to right. The Brewers got that run back in the top of the sixth, as freshman Denis Shanagher (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius) drove in Wuenschell with two-out single to put VC up 4-1.

The Golden Knights threatened in the bottom of the eighth, pulling to within two runs after Bobby Derico doubled in run with one out. Sophomore reliever Connor Cucalon (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius) worked out of the jam to preserve the two-run lead, and closed out the game in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.

Johnson led the way for Vassar, as he finished with three hits in four at-bats, scoring once, while Shanagher was 2-for-3 with a walk, stolen base and RBI. All but one starter had a hit for the Brewers Friday against the Golden Knights, with English reaching twice on the day.

Vassar's freshman starter picked up his eighth win of the season, as Berg set an all-time record for victories in a season for a Brewer pitcher. The lefty went 7.1 innings, scattering seven hits and allowing two earned runs while striking out seven. Berg threw 149 pitches on the day, but did well to work out of jams.

Clarkson finishes its season with an overall record of 19-13, having played every game this year on the road.