TROY, NY (April 30, 2016) – The Vassar College baseball team played on the road for the first time in 28 days on Saturday, splitting a Liberty League doubleheader with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in action from Robison Field. RPI earned the first contest 4-0, while the Brewers responded with a 5-1 victory in the nightcap. With the win and other action around the Liberty League, Vassar moved into a three-way tie for second place, one game behind conference leader Clarkson University.

Game 1 – RPI 4, Vassar 0
Rensselaer starter Stephen Schiavone posted a complete game shutout in the opening game, hurling seven innings while allowing four hits and two walks while fanning eight in helping the Engineers to the victory.

Vassar starting pitcher Jonathan Hong was strong as well as he chalked up another complete game, registering three strikeouts while surrendering five hits and only one earned run. Vassar's defense, which has been very strong all season, let it down in the opening contest Saturday. In the first inning, Ethann Meister tripled in Sam Lawrence, scoring on a throwing error on the play. Lawrence had earlier reached on an error as well.

RPI added to its lead in the fifth inning, as Yahriel Jimenez reached on an error by Hong to start the frame. J.T. Sawyer later knocked Jimenez with a single with one out, giving the Engineers a three-run advantage. Thomas Desmond finished the scoring in the game with a solo homer in the sixth inning.

Seniors Brooks English, Nick Johnson and Dakota Sagnelli each had base hits for the Brewers, as did sophomore shortstop Matt Hernandez.

Game 2 – Vassar 5, RPI 1
Freshman Joe Conti allowed just one run over six innings of work for the Brewers, and junior Robert Winkelmann tossed the last three innings to earn the save as Vassar earned the twinbill split. In just the second career start for Conti, he was superb as he fanned six Engineer hitters while scattering nine hits to pick up his second career win.

RPI struck first in the second contest of the day, as Christian Spagnuola drove in Matt Lawrence with a single down the left field line. Vassar would take the lead for good in the third, as Brooks English put a ground ball through Jimenez to score Denis Shanagher and Sagnelli.

The score remained at 2-1 until the eighth inning, when the Brewers posted two more runs thanks to an RBI single from Johnson and a run-scoring double from Cory Wuenschell. The double was the second of the day for the senior designated hitter for the Brewers. VC padded its lead in the ninth, thanks to a RBI single to center field by Shanagher to plate Eric Strickland.

Wuenschell was 2-for-4 on the contest, while Shanagher also added a pair of base hits including a double. All but one hitter for the Brewers had at least one knock in the game, as Strickland and Sagnelli each had a hit and sacrifice bunt. Winkelmann continued to be great out of the bullpen for VC, as he earned his second save of the season after allowing just one hit over the final three frames. Winkelmann has allowed just one earned run in his last seven outings.

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Vassar (17-16, 11-7 Liberty) will turn around and host another Liberty League doubleheader with RPI (11-22, 10-8) Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for noon on Prentiss Field.