ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY (March 30, 2016) – The Vassar College baseball team scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally and knock off Bard College in a non-conference contest from Honey Field Wednesday afternoon.

The rally came with the Brewers (6-8) down 7-4 heading into the top of the final frame, but that didn't deter the gritty Vassar club from making a comeback. With one out, sophomore Matt Hernandez singled to left field followed by a walk by junior Mike Koscielniak. After pinch hitter Matt Schwartz was hit by a pitch, Bard replaced JP Fisher on the mound.

After the pitching change, junior Brad Kendall walked to force in a run and bring VC to within two at 7-5, forcing another mound visit and change at pitcher. Junior Brooks English drew another bases loaded walk to bring Vassar to within one at 7-6 and Nick Johnson followed with an RBI single to right field to tie the game. Sophomore Eric Strickland put Vassar ahead on the next at bat, as he grounded out to second base to make the score 8-7 for the Brewers.

In the bottom half of the inning, head coach Jon Martin made some defensive changes and junior Robert Winkelmann came in and worked around a lead-off single to earn the save for the Brewers. The entire comeback was made possible thanks to four great innings in relief from sophomore Derek DeMild (1-1). The second-year righty came on in the fifth and worked four innings, allowing just one earned run on 72 pitches to keep VC in the game.

Bard (5-10) earned the early lead with four runs in the first inning, three coming on one swing compliments of a three-run shot from Alex Montecalvo. Vassar responded with one in the third, but BC added a single score to retake a 5-1 lead. The Brewers posted three in the top of the sixth, as Johnson and Strickland each had RBI singles in the frame.

The hosts added single runs in the sixth and seventh as well, which set up the late game heroics for the Brewers. Johnson finished 4-for-6 with two RBI and a double, while Strickland had two hits and two RBI. Koscielniak posted his first start at DH and was 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored, and Hernandez was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base.

Vassar starter Jesse Mulham went two innings on the hill, allowing five hits and four runs before handing the ball to Koscielniak. The lefty allowed one run on a solo homer, surrendering three hits as well. Despite the comeback, the Brewers left 15 runners on base on the contest and was out-hit 13-10.

Bard's Adam Carafotes was 2-for-4 with a homer, while Matt Lasky was 3-for-5 with a run scored.
The Brewers will head to Saratoga Springs, NY Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. to take on Skidmore College for a pair of Liberty League contests.