FT. MYERS, FL (March 18, 2017) – The Vassar College baseball team exploded for 18 hits in game two of its doubleheader Saturday afternoon with New York University, winning a 4:27 contest in the nightcap in 11 innings 15-14 to salvage a split in a non-conference twin bill from Terry Park. Vassar fell in the opener 14-2 to the Violets.

NYU 14, Vassar 2
In the opening game, the Violets and Brewers played another slow moving contest to the tune of three hours and 24 minutes. The game remained close until two runs in the top of the seventh for NYU (8-3) and six in the eighth blew the contest open.

NYU got on the board in the top of the first as the Violets got a RBI single from Adrian Spitz to jump on top 1-0. Vassar answered in the bottom of the first, as Matt Hernandez led off with a single and later scored on a line-drive double down the right field line by Denis Shanagher.

The Brewers would take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the third, as senior Mike Koscielniak singled to lead off the frame, followed by a Hernandez hit by pitch. After a strikeout, junior Bobby Kinne scored a run on a sacrifice fly to give VC a 2-1 advantage. NYU answered in the top of the fourth with an unearned run to tie the game.

NYU regained its one-run advantage in the top of the sixth with a single run, as Jon Iaione doubled to right center to score Spitz. In the seventh, Spitz doubled in two runs off the right field wall to highlight a three-run inning. Spitz wasn't done, as he then scored three on a triple in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

Vassar posted just four hits in the game, as Hernandez, Bryan Rubin and Koscielniak singled in addition to Shanagher's double. Vassar starter Trent Berg threw the ball well, allowing just two earned runs over 5.1 innings, allowing six hits.

Cam Serapilio-Frank was the winner for the Violets, going seven innings while surrendering four runs and one earned run.

Vassar 15, NYU 14 (11)
In one of the weirdest and craziest games that you'll ever see, the Vassar College baseball team pushed across a run in the top of the 11^th on an infield single by Shanagher to score freshman Daniel Bonfiglio. The game took 4:27, while featuring 15 total pitchers and 28 hits, 17 walks, seven hit batsmen and 416 pitches.

Vassar College scored early and often, as Hernandez doubled to start the game, followed by a single by Bonfiglio. Kinne doubled down the right field line for an RBI, and sophomore Matt Schwarz doubled to deep left-center to put Vassar up 3-0.

NYU answered right back with two runs in the bottom half, but VC responded with five runs in the top half of the second to take an 8-2 lead. In the frame, the big shot came from Schwartz again, as he posted a two-run single to right field after RBI singles from Kinne and Bonfiglio. NYU wouldn't go away, as Colman Hendershot posted the only hit of the bottom of the second, scoring four runs with one swing with a grand slam over the right field wall.

The most memorable moment of the game may have come in the top of the third, as sophomore Alex Hartnett touched off his first career homer to greet Connor Hasely to the game to put the Brewers up 10-6. The rally wouldn't stop there, as VC also got a RBI single from Kinne and a RBI double by Shanagher to push the score to 12-6.

The bottom of the third the Violets plated a pair of runs to make the score 12-8. Vassar scored two more in the top of the fifth, as Hartnett pushed a run across with a single up the middle and Chris Lee also ripped a single to left to score Schwartz. During the middle innings though, senior Adam Erkis was great, going 5.2 innings relief, allowing one earned runs on three hits.

With the score 14-9 going to the bottom of the ninth, NYU began its rally and would plate five runs to tie the game at 14, with the tying run coming on a sacrifice fly from Max Juang to right field. NYU nearly won the game in the ninth, but Iaione hit a rocket that was snared by Hartnett, who doubled off Hendershot at first base to extend the game.

The contest would go until the 11^th inning, thanks to strong relief pitching from freshman Max Spencer. In the top of the 11^th, Lee led off with a single to right field, and after a wild pitch, went to third on a sacrifice bunt.

Bonfiglio would reach on a fielder's choice, going to second on a single from Kinne. With two outs, Shanagher hit a hard shot back up the box which was deflected by Matt Millus towards shortstop. Never breaking stride, Bonfiglio came around third and beat the throw to the plate to put Vassar on top.

In the bottom half, Spencer to a ground out and strikeout to start the inning, and worked around a double by inducing a fly out to right field to end the game. Vassar had a ton of offensive heroes, as seven players had multi-hit performances. Kinne finished with four hits, three RBI and three runs scored for Vassar, while Schwarz ended game two with four RBI and a run scored.

Hartnett was 2-for-6 with three RBI, and Lee finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Hernandez scored twice and had two hits, and Bonfiglio was 2-for-6 with three runs scored, as every started crossed one at least once for VC. Spencer got the win for Vassar, allowing just one hit over his three innings of work, fanning three Violet hitters.

"I was really impressed with a lot of our guys; got a lot of hits; clutch pitching from Erkis and Max Spencer and found a way to win. What else can you ask for," said head coach Matthew Righter.

Vassar won't have much time to rest up, taking on Plymouth State University Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for a doubleheader at the Player Development Center in Fort Myers, FL.