POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 29, 2017) – The Vassar College baseball team celebrated Senior Day in style on Saturday afternoon, capturing both ends of a Liberty League doubleheader with the Raptors with scores of 1-0 and 9-1. Prior to the game, Vassar's six seniors of Denis Shanagher, Mike Koscielniak, Brad Kendall, Adam Erkis, Trent Berg and Robert Winkelmann for their dedication to the program.

Game 1 – Vassar 1, Bard 0
Senior right-hander Adam Erkis had possibly the best start of his career on Saturday afternoon, as the senior tossed a complete-game, one-hit shutout in a game that took a tidy one hour and 24 minutes. Neither team mustered much offensively, as Erkis and Bard starter Frank Ortega were both stellar.

Erkis would face the minimum on the day, as he retired the first six batters before Preston Gittelson was hit by a pitch to start the third. Vassar nearly got on the board early in the game, loading the bases in the first on a hit by pitch, walk and single, but Ortega got out of the jam.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Vassar would break through, as freshman Evan Trausch singled up the middle to start the frame. After a fielder's choice, freshman Matt Martino stole second base and was scored on a two-out base hit from sophomore Taylor Smach.

That was enough for Erkis, who didn't allow a runner past first base, as both runners that did reach base were cut down by sophomore catcher Jake Doyle, who's now through out four attempted base stealers in the last two games. Vassar would strand eight runners on base in game one, but it wouldn't haunt them, as Erkis dominated to give VC the win.

The one-hitter by Erkis was a personal best, as he chalked up three games in his career with two hits allowed in a game. The complete-game shutout was the third of his career, and it was the first time ever that a Vassar starting pitcher has tossed a one-hitter without allowing a run. Erkis threw just 76 pitches, while striking out four.

Offensively, Trausch was a perfect 3-for-3, while freshman Daniel Bonfiglio and senior Mike Koscielniak each posted a hit as well. Ortega finished as the tough-luck loser, allowing six hits and one earned run on two walks and one strikeout for Bard.

Game 2 – Vassar 9, Bard 1
Vassar exploded for six runs in the bottom of the first inning in game two, and Trent Berg cruised through six innings as the Brewers captured the nightcap and sweep Saturday. In the bottom of the first inning, Vassar sent 10 batters to the plate, posting four hits in the frame. Junior Matt Hernandez led off with a walk, followed by a walk by Shanagher. Martino would push Hernandez across with a single to left field. After a double play, Bobby Kinne was hit, then stealing second and third base, before coming home on a wild pitch. Later in the frame, Smach singled in Matt Schwartz, Doyle doubled to left field to plate Smach and Bryan Rubin also tallied a run-scoring single.

An inning later, Shanagher singled to lead off the second inning, and later came across thanks to a Kinne single up the middle. As Berg continued to post zeros, Vassar chalked up two more runs in the third inning, as Shanagher doubled in Hernandez and Rubin, both of whom singled earlier in the inning.

That would be plenty for the Brewers, as Berg went six strong innings, surrendering eight hits and one run while fanning five batters. Winkelman would come on and get the save for the Brewers, as he gave up just one hit over three innings, striking out three batters.

Shanagher was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Doyle posted two hits in three at-bats. Rubin was also 2-for-3 with a RBI, and Kinne finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and three stolen bases. Vassar chalked up six stolen bags in the second game.

Quinn McInerney and Jeff Goldrosen each had two hits in four at-bats for the Raptors (8-23, 3-15 Liberty), while Preston Gittelson chalked up a 2-for-3 contest.

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The Brewers (15-15., 8-7 Liberty) and Raptors will play Sunday in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY for another Liberty League doubleheader, as Bard will host Vassar at Honey Field at noon.