POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 28, 2018) – The Vassar College baseball team opened its 2018 home slate Wednesday afternoon with a hitting display, pounding out 15 hits to knock off visiting College of Old Westbury 10-4 in non-conference action from Prentiss Field.
 
The 15 hits for the Brewers (3-5) were a season-high, and the most since collecting 16 knocks last year in a home win over Manhattanville College May 2. Five players had multi-hit afternoons, led by senior Bobby Kinne who finished 3-for-3 with two walks as he reached all five times at the plate.
 
Things didn't start well for Vassar though, as Old Westbury posted two runs on a pair of RBI groundouts in the top of the first to take an early 2-0 lead. VC trimmed its lead in half in the bottom of the second, as junior Bryan Rubin singled with one out to start the rally. Junior Taylor Smach singled a batter later, and a double steal opened the hole for Jake Doyle to push a ground ball through the left side for an RBI single.
 
In the bottom of the third, Vassar took its first lead of the day, as Kinne singled to start the inning. Sophomore Daniel Bonfiglio followed with a ringing triple to the right-center alley, and later came around to score on a line-drive double to right-center by sophomore Evan Trausch.
 
Old Westbury (7-6-1) regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run since by John Condon, but Vassar came right back in the bottom half of the frame. VC pushed across five runs in the bottom half of the fifth, with the big blow coming on a double off the left-field wall by Smach.
 
VC would push across two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 10-4, as senior Matt Hernandez lifted a towering double to left field, scoring two batters later on a wild pitch. Kinne also scored in the inning for the Brewers, walking after Hernandez's double and coming around on a sacrifice fly from Trausch.
 
That would be plenty of offense for Vassar, as the Brewers pitching staff held the Panther offense scoreless over the final four innings to preserve the win. In addition to Kinne's big day, Vassar saw Smach finish 2-for-3 with two RBI and a hit by pitch. Hernandez was 2-for-5 with a run and RBI, while Rubin added a 2-for-4 afternoon with two runs scored. Doyle also was 2-for-4 for Vassar.
 
On the mound, sophomore Mitchell Mullock settled down after allowing two runs in the top of the first to go four innings, scattering six hits and fanning two. Freshman Logan Willans came out of the bullpen and earned the win, going 3.1 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first collegiate win. Willans allowed three hits and struck out two before handing the ball to senior Derek DeMild, who struck out one in his scoreless ninth inning appearance.
 
Liam Slattery led Old Westbury with three hits and two runs scored, while Jesse Russo and Condon each posted two hits apiece for the Panthers, who finished with 12 hits on the day.
 
Vassar doesn't have much time to rest though, jumping into Liberty League play Friday afternoon at 1 p.m., taking on St. Lawrence University for a pair of conference games on Prentiss Field. VC will also play two against SLU Saturday at noon.