POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 28, 2018) -- The Vassar College baseball team hosted visiting Union College Saturday afternoon in a pair of Liberty League contests on Prentiss Field, but the Dutchmen bats came alive in scoring 21 runs on the day to take both ends of the twinbill with scores of 12-1 in game one and 9-6 in the nightcap. 

Game 1: Union 12, Vassar 1
Union College scored nine runs over the final two innings in the opening game, busting open a 3-1 contest on the strength of home runs by Colin Kelly and Jack Koch. 

The Dutchmen opened the scoring in the top half the first frame, posting three runs on just one hit as Sean Cullen singled in the third run of the inning after two runs came across on a throwing error. After that, both starters were locked in until the bottom of the fifth, as Bobby Kinne doubled in Eric Strickland from first base with two outs to make the score 3-1. 

Union responded with four runs on seven hits in the top of the sixth, highlighted by a three-run shot from Kelly. An inning later, Koch connected for a grand slam to put the game out of reach for the Dutchmen. Junior Jake Doyle was 2-for-3 for the Brewers, while Bryan Rubin, Matt Schwartz and Tanner Blough each had hits as well. 

Vassar starter Max Spencer allowed six runs (four earned) over five innings, allowing five hits while punching out four Dutchmen hitters. Union got a complete game from Jake Vesling, surrendering one run on six hits to go with seven strikeouts. 

Game 2: Union 9, Vassar 6
Vassar led 3-2 after five innings, but Union chalked up four runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead for good. After UC opened the scoring in the top of the second, scoring again in the top of the fourth, Vassar evened the tally at two in the bottom of the fourth as Schwartz doubled off the left field wall to start the inning. Sophomore Evan Trausch followed with a walk, and Taylor Smach singled to load the bases. 

During the next at-bat, Schwartz came across on a wild pitch, and Bryan Rubin singled up the middle to tie the game at two. The Brewers took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fifth, getting a run on a double play ball to make the score 3-2. 

The next half inning, Union pushed across four runs to make the score 6-3, and added two more runs in the top of the eighth inning. Vassar didn't go away though, as Smach crushed a three-run homer to left field after Schwartz and Trausch singled to start the frame to pull to within two at 8-6. Union pushed across another run in the top of the ninth to finish the scoring, and Nick Williams closed things out for Union in the ninth.

Schwartz was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a walk, while Rubin posted three hits including a double and a RBI. Smach was 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI for Vassar, which finished with nine hits. Junior Alex Hartnett allowed one hit over 1.2 innings of work in relief, after Mitchell Mullock scattered seven hits and three earned runs. 

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Vassar (15-15, 8-8 Liberty) takes on Union College Sunday afternoon in more Liberty League action at noon to finish the weekend's play.