POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 15, 2017) – For the first time in program history, the Vassar College baseball team took all four games of a Liberty League weekend series against Union College, as the Brewers swept the Dutchmen for the second straight day with scores of 10-5 and 14-8. The sweep propelled the Brewers right back into the thick of things in the Liberty League, going from ninth to sixth place in two days.
 
GAME 1: Vassar 10, Union 5
The Brewers posted four runs in the opening half inning in game one, and never looked back, scoring five more in the fourth inning to run away with the opening contest. Vassar only posted eight hits, but three of those left the yard including a grand slam from senior Denis Shanagher in the fourth to bust open the game.
 
In the opening stanza, Vassar (10-12, 4-5 Liberty) got it going quickly, as junior Matt Hernandez walked followed by a two-run shot to right field by fellow junior Bobby Kinne. For Kinne, it was his second home run of the season and second of his career. Three batters later, freshman Matt Martino would get in on the long ball action, as he connected for a two-run tater down the right field line.
 
Union (11-10, 7-5 Liberty) scored two in the bottom of the first, and then plated another run in the bottom of the second to pull to within one run at 4-3. Sensing the need for more runs, Vassar would get just that, as the Brewers pushed across five in the top of the fourth. In the inning, Bryan Rubin and Hernandez were hit by pitches, followed by a single from Kinne to load the bases. Shanagher stepped up next, and blasted a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall to make the score 8-3.
 
VC added another unearned run in the top of the fourth, and then scored another in the top of the sixth on a RBI double by Rubin, scoring Martino from third. That was plenty of support for Vassar starter Trent Berg, who earned the win, moving to 1-3 on the year after allowing 11 hits and four earned runs, striking out four over 109 pitches.
 
Kinne finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Hernandez was 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Freshman Evan Trausch added a hit and two runs scored, while Martino was 1-for-1 with two runs and two RBI, walking three times. Kent Cullen homered twice for Union in the loss.
 
GAME 2: Vassar 14, Union 8
The Brewer offensive attack continued to click in the second game of the day, scoring in seven of the nine runs to complete the four-game sweep of Union. Vassar put up multiple runs in the first, third and fifth innings, including a five-run fifth to provide the margin of victory. In the first inning, Vassar once again jumped out on top, as Trausch singled in Hernandez after the junior started the inning with a base hit. A batter later, Martino drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run.
 
In the second, Trausch was at it again for VC, as he continued to drive in runs with a sacrifice fly to plate Matt Schwartz, who doubled to start the frame. The Brewers upped their lead to 6-0 in the third inning, and scored five more in the fifth, as Trausch singled in Schwarz followed by a Martino run-scoring single to plate Hernandez.
 
The rally continued, as Taylor Smach doubled down the left-field line to push two runs across, as Shanagher and Trausch each came around to score. VC also would get a run on a wild pitch in the fifth, as Martino scampered home to make the score 11-0.
 
In the top of the sixth, the runs continued to come for Vassar, as Schwartz hammered his first homer of the season to center field, putting VC up 12-0. That would be plenty of offense for Vassar, as the Brewers cruised to victory in the nightcap despite a late rally from the hosts.
 
Schwartz had a huge day at the plate for the Brewers, as the sophomore went 4-for-6 with three runs, a homer and two doubles. Trausch continued his torrid hitting display of late, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, and Martino walked three more times while adding three RBI and a hit in game two.
 
Smach chalked up a 2-for-3 contest with two RBI as well, and Shanagher was 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. Hernandez and Kinne each scored three times in the second game of the day as well, as Vassar put its lead-off man on base in six of the nine innings. Sophomore Joe Conti picked up the win, going six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits along with four strikeouts. Freshman Robert Pinataro recorded the final two outs to secure the win.
 
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The Brewers will look to keep their current win streak of five going on Wednesday, hosting Mount Saint Mary College on Prentiss Field at 4 p.m. in non-conference action.