AUBURNDALE, NY (March 12, 2017) – After dealing with a 2:30 rain delay that forced the two teams to relocate 25 minutes away from Chain of Lakes Park to Lake Myrtle Park, the Vassar College baseball team wasn't able to overcome two runs in the top of the ninth from Fredonia in dropping a non-conference battle to the Blue Devils 7-5 Sunday.

The Brewers and Blue Devils (5-4) started the contest at Chain of Lakes Park at 3:05, and got through the first 1.5 innings of action, as Fredonia plated three runs off Vassar freshman Max Spencer to take a 3-0 lead. Between innings, the clouds would open up, unleashing torrential rains on the complex, making the fields unplayable.

After talking, the two coaches and tournament directors decided to move the game from Chain of Lakes to Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale at 6:05. Once there, the Brewers decided to put freshman Billy Mathiesen into the game to protect Spencer's arm, and he did not disappoint.

The righty would shut down the Fredonia lineup over the next four innings, allowing Vassar to make a comeback. In the bottom of the fourth, junior Bobby Kinne touched off his career Vassar homerun on a blast to right field, and VC played another run after senior Denis Shanagher singled and scored on a ground ball double play.

Vassar took its first lead of the game in the fifth inning, as freshman Connor Levchuck posted his first career base hit to start the frame. Fellow freshman Daniel Bonfiglio singled for his first hit at Vassar, and two batters later, Shanagher doubled off the left field wall to put the Brewers ahead 4-3.

Fredonia would finally get to Mathiesen in the eighth inning, scoring two runs to make the score 5-4. Vassar tied the game in the bottom half, as junior Matt Hernandez singled in junior Eric Strickland, who walked to start the inning. In the ninth though, Fredonia plated a pair of runs on wild pitches to push ahead for the win.

Shanagher finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while freshman Matt Martino was 2-for-3 as Vassar posted nine hits Sunday. Mathiesen went five innings in relief, allowing two runs and five hits while tossing 76 pitches. Sophomore Bryan Rubin also tossed two innings for Vassar, allowing three hits and striking out three batters.

Fredonia was paced by Steve Zabrowski, who was 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Liam Kelly, Alexio Medina and Jon Morrison all had two hits apiece. Bailey Gauthier went three innings of scoreless relief for Fredonia, and Lucas Schaefer earned the win after allowing one run and one hit, striking out three.

"There was a lot of adversity against us, but we came back with clutch hits and really good pitching and we had a chance to win the game, and that's all I can ask for," said head coach Matthew Righter.

The Brewers will now have a quick turnaround, taking on Westfield State University at 9:15 a.m. at Lake Myrtle Park in non-conference action.