LOS ANGELES, CA (March 12, 2018) -- The Vassar College baseball team pushed across three runs in the top of the seventh inning, but fell just short Monday evening in dropping a 4-3 non-conference tussle with Occidental College. 

The host Tigers (9-6) got on the board in the bottom of the first, as Oxy pushed across a pair on a double by Michael Netzel and a RBI ground out by Joey Garza. Occidental added to its lead in the bottom of the third, as Garza singled in Jake Fredrickson, though Vassar starter Jake Silver minimized damage with a double-play ball to get out of the inning. 

In the bottom of the sixth, OC posted another run, as Frederickson pushed a run across with a sacrifice fly. That's all the Tigers would get in the frame, as newly-converted pitcher Alex Hartnett stranded runners at second and third. 

That would set up Vassar's rally in the top of the seventh, with all of the damage going with two outs. Senior backstop Chris Lee started the fireworks with a double to right center, followed by Matt McGannon's first collegiate hit to put runners at the corners. Fellow freshman Tanner Blough followed with his first Vassar knock, doubling in pinch-runner Narendra Martin to put runners at second and third. 

Junior Matt Schwarz pinch-hit for the Brewers and came up big, as he laced a single to left center to score both McGannon and Blough. The inning nearly continued, but junior Bryan Rubin's line-drive effort was snagged to end the rally. 

That's where the ball game would stay, thanks to a strong relief effort from Hartnett, who allowed no hits and fanned two Tiger batters over his 2.2 innings of work in his first collegiate appearance. VC threatened again in the bottom of the eighth, putting runners at first and second with two outs, but couldn't push a run across. 

In the top of the ninth, Occidental closer Dean Abramson came on and worked a 1-2-3 inning to earn the save for the Tigers. Vassar had eight different players with one hit, as Blough was 1-for-4 with a run scored, RBI and walk. VC's pitching staff turned its second straight solid performance, as freshman Logan Willans tossed a scoreless third inning in his first stint with VC. 

Vassar sophomore Evan Trausch worked his first collegiate pitching appearance Monday, allowing one earned run over 2.1 innings. Brewer starter Jake Silver was saddled with the loss, surrendering four hits and three earned runs. 

Occidental starter Tom Butler earned the win, allowing just three hits and two walks over five innings, striking out six Brewer batters. Frederickson finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Bryan Smith was 2-for-4 with a run as well. Netzal added a pair of doubles for the Tigers, who totaled nine hits on the day. 

"I was happy with how we played in our first two games," said head coach Matt Righter. "The first two starting pitchers were throwing 94 (MPH) and 88, respectively. Our hitters improved every at bat and our pitching really kept us in both games (Sunday's game vs. Chapman also). I expect everyone on this team to contribute this year and feel like we will continue to get better every time out." 

Vassar is right back on the field Tuesday morning at 10:30 PDT/1:30 EDT, taking on Pomona-Pitzer in action from Pomona, CA. "Tomorrow will be another great opportunity against a very good Pomona team. If we are in the game at the very end like these past two games, I have no doubt that we will get the clutch hit to finish the job."