POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 11, 2016) – The Vassar College baseball team shook off a game one loss to Clarkson University in a Liberty League doubleheader, winning the second contest 9-7 to pick up a split in action from Prentiss Field Sunday afternoon. CU knocked off the Brewers 9-2 in the opening contest of the day.

Game 1 – Clarkson 9, Vassar 2
Clarkson's Chris Miller connected for two homeruns in the game one win, including a three-run homer in the sixth inning to help the Golden Knights pull away from the Brewers.

Vassar scored once in the top of the first inning, serving as the visitors on its home field Sunday afternoon. In the inning, Brooks English walked and moved to third on a throwing error by Clarkson starter Ian Castle. Senior Nick Johnson would plate Brooks English with a ground out in the first to give VC a 1-0 lead.

Clarkson answered with four in the bottom of the first, as Miller highlighted  a frame that saw the Golden Knights plate the four scores with no one out. Will Coleman and Greg Jasek produced run-scoring singles before Miller touched off his first homer of the day to score Jasek and give CU a 4-1 lead.

The Golden Knights added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two more to take a 6-1 edge. Vassar plated a run in the fifth on a balk, but Miller's three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth sealed the deal for CU. Eric Strickland was 2-for-3 for Vassar, while junior Mike Koscielniak was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Ian Castle went the distance for CU, allowing one earned run and five hits over seven innings of play. Vassar starter Johnny Mrlik also posted a complete game, striking out six batters while allowing nine earned runs.

Game 2 – Vassar 9, Clarkson 7
Junior Mike Koscielniak was 4-for-5 and six Brewer batters added two hits as Vassar College chalked up three in the top of the eight to secure the win. Clarkson scored first in the bottom of the first, as Miller singled in a run.

VC answered with a single run to tie the game in the top of the second, as Matt Hernandez drove in a run with a single to right field. CU regained the lead with two in the bottom of the fourth, but VC would respond with three in the top of the fifth. The big blow in the inning came from senior Cory Wuenschell, who drove in two runs with a single up the middle.

CU didn't go away, plating three in the sixth as Dom Pirro singled in a run and Miller forced in a score with a walk.

The Brewers were not deterred as they tied the game at six with two in the top of the seventh, as Dakota Sagnelli and Hernandez each drove in runs. VC continued to score in the top of the eighth, plating runs on a bases-loaded walk by Wuenschell, while Koscielniak check-swung a single down the third-base line for an RBI single. Sagnelli capped the rally with a RBI single to center.

Clarkson (4-12, 1-5 Liberty) plated a single run in the eighth but senior reliever Connor Cucalon came on to earn the save, surrendering 1.1 innings while striking out two CU hitters. The four hits for Koscielniak were a career-high Sunday, while junior Denis Shanagher was 2-for-6 with a stolen base and an incredible diving catch in the eighth. Brooks English was 2-for-4 with two runs, while Sagnelli, Hernandez and Johnson each had two hits apiece.

Junior Robert Winkelmann allowed no earned runs over his 2.1 innings of work, striking out two, while starter Jonathan Hong surrendered three earned runs and eight hits over 5.1 innings.

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Vassar (10-10, 6-4 Liberty) will entertain the Golden Knights tomorrow at 1 p.m. in more Liberty League action.