The 2019 home opener for Vassar baseball included many of the elements of March baseball in upstate New York.

The visiting Clarkson Golden Knights won the first Liberty League game, 13-3, in a contest that started in dreary rain and ended in warm sunshine after seven innings at Prentiss Field. The second game started with the sun, yet was called due to darkness after 8 innings of play with Clarkson leading the Brewers 14-4.

The teams will resume the second contest Saturday at 11 a.m, prior to the scheduled doubleheader.

With Friday's results, the Brewers drop to 8-8, 3-2 in the Liberty League while Clarkson moves to 5-6 and earned their first league win of the season.

GAME 1

The Brewers locked into a pitching duel with the Golden Knights in the first three innings, before Vassar uncorked the offense in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs in the frame and facing two strikes, Vassar senior outfielder Matt Schwartz fouled off two tough pitches from Clarkson starter Mark Connor. Schwartz got an offering to his liking and lined a base hit up the middle to drive in junior Evan Trausch and tie the game at 1-1.

Junior backstop Robert Pinataro kept the Vassar offense moving with a base hint that plated two teammates for a 3-1 lead. Pinataro now has seven RBI on the young season.

The Golden Knights regained the lead when senior designated hitter Brad Pearson hit a three-run home run over the right-field wall. Clarkson would add to its lead over the final four frames.

Golden Knights left-handed Mike Bubniak (2-2) picked up the victory in relief of starter Mark Connor, throwing 3.1 innings allowing just one bite with four strikeouts.

Smach led Vassar with two hits and one run scored, while Trausch added a base hit and scored. Brewers starting pitcher Max Spencer (0-1) went 4.2 innings and struck out four batters.

GAME 2

The second contest was played much like the first, sans the rain.

Vassar struck for two runs in the fifth inning. Trausch led off with a double to left, Smach followed with a walk and Brinster singled to load the bases. Sophomore Brent Shimoda drove in Trausch with a sinking line drive to center to cut the Clarkson lead to 3-1. Matt McGannon's sacrifice fly would get the Brewers within one run, 3-2.

The Knights extended their lead back out to 7-2 in the top of the sixth, led by Pearson's second home run of the afternoon, a solo shot to right-center.

Smach's sky high drive bounced off the wall for an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth, his 11th RBI of the young season. Trausch scored the Brewers fourth run shortly after, scampering home on a passed ball.   

Clarkson, like in the first game of the afternoon, found success against Vassar's relief pitching and widened it's lead to 10-4 through seven innings.

The umpires and the two coaches conferred as the darkness rolled in, and the decision was made to resume play Saturday.

Vassar starter MItchell Mullock tossed 5.1 innings with three strikeouts and just one walk.

First pitch of the scheduled doubleheader is 12 p.m. AND THE ACTION FROM FRIDAY'S GAME WILL START AT 11 A.M.