SANFORD, FL (March 11, 2017) – The Matthew Righter era of Vassar Baseball started splendidly on Saturday afternoon, as the Vassar College baseball team rallied twice to knock off the Owls of Keene State College 3-2 in 11 innings in action from Seminole County Sports Complex in Sanford, FL.

The Vassar pitching was top notch all day, holding the potent Keene State lineup to just two runs and eight hits over 11 innings. The Brewer offense was slow to get going, posting its first hit of the day in the seventh inning, but VC got hits in big situations when it needed them.

The first five innings were scoreless, as Vassar senior Adam Erkis and Tim Coppinger matched each other on the mound. KSC jumped out on top in the top of the sixth, stringing three singles together to take a 1-0 advantage.

Vassar would get its first run of the season in the seventh, as junior shortstop Matt Hernandez led off the frame with a single. After moving around to third on a ground out by senior Michael Koscielniak and fly ball by junior Bobby Kinne, senior Denis Shanagher would deliver an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at one.

Erkis gave way to freshman Billy Mathiesen after the seventh inning, and the Owls would take advantage, plating a run in the top of the eighth to make the score 2-1. The inning could have been way worse for the Brewers, but senior reliever Robert Winkelmann limited the damage to one run after coming in with runners in scoring position and one out.

This would be key for the Brewers, allowing for Vassar to stay within striking distance, especially on a day where VC's bats were quiet for much of the afternoon. In the eighth, VC got a lead-off hit by sophomore Taylor Smach, who was pinch run for by junior Eric Strickland. Strickland would steal second and third base, but would be stranded there after a strikeout ended the threat.

After Winkelmann got the side 1-2-3 in the ninth inning, Hernandez was once again the catalyst of a rally, as he led off with a walk to start the stanza. Koscielniak bunted Hernandez to second base, moving to third base on a ground out. With two outs and the count 2-1, Keene State uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Hernandez to scamper home to tie the game. The rally wasn't over, as Shanagher would walk, going to third on a single by sophomore Jake Doyle, but VC couldn't push a run across to send the game to extras.

In the 10^th, Keene State put a runner on third with two outs but Winkelmann once again worked out of the jam to keep the game deadlocked at two. In the bottom of the 11^th, Koscielniak singled with one out, and moved to second on a wild pitch. The next batter was Kinne, who grounded a ball towards third base, and the throw to first skipped past the first baseman allowing Koscielniak to come around from second to give VC the season-opening victory.

Erkis was great in his season debut Saturday, as the senior tossed seven strong innings allowing six hits while fanning seven Owl hitters, walking none. Winkelmann earned the victory for Vassar, going 3.2 innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three.

Vassar played strong defense on Saturday, especially by Shanagher at second base, who was transitioning from playing center field since his freshman year. Also, VC's base-running was very good, taking extra bases on balls in the dirt while stealing four bases as well.

"Really proud of the way our guys fought today even when they were down," said Righter, who earned his first win as the head coach of the Brewers. 

The Brewers are back in action on Sunday afternoon, taking on the Blue Devils of Fredonia in Winter Haven, FL at Chain of Lakes Park at 3:30 p.m. in non-conference play.