POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The Vassar College Baseball team suffered two tight losses in a Liberty League doubleheader against the University of Rochester on Sunday afternoon. The Yellowjackets took game one, 5-2, followed by completing the sweep with a 4-3 victory to improve to 19-10 overall and 11-2 in conference play while the Brewers move to 16-12 and 3-6 in Liberty League action.

ROCH 5 - VC 2
A pitcher's duel unfolded in the first five innings as Rochester starter Colby Cruser and junior Michael Came matched zeros throughout. The Yellowjackets got on the board first on a RBI single from Joseph Rende that scored Aaron Whitley to take a 1-0 lead in the sixth. Vassar tied the score at one on a RBI double from senior Andrew Kanellis that plated sophomore Ricardo Reyna in the bottom of the sixth.

Rochester put up four in the seventh as Dan Tirabassi scored on a double steal along with Josh Leadem scoring on a VC error. Rende drove in Whitley for the second time on the day with a double and was later plated by Colton Avera. The Brewers notched a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly from senior Ezra Caspi that scored junior Reid Lapekas.

Came went 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits, one run and struck out two in the no-decision. Senior Bryce Grathwohl took the loss in relief as he tossed one inning and gave up three hits, four runs (three earned), walked two and struck out one. Freshman Cade Terada-Herzer pitched 2.2 scoreless innings out of the pen.

Cruser went five innings, allowing just one hit and struck out eight for Rochester as Justin Grossman earned the win while throwing 1.2 innings, three hits, two runs (one earned), two walks and struck out one. Mark Aaronson picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Kanellis tallied two hits and a RBI while Lapekas, freshman Jensen Bergman, junior Jaden Millstein and junior Ty Murray each added a hit for Vassar. Rende finished with three hits and two RBI along with Whitley and Avera recording two hits apiece for Rochester.

ROCH 4 - VC 3
Vassar got on the board first in the second inning as bases loaded walks from sophomore Birch Herring-Jackson and Millstein scored Bergman and Lapekas to go ahead 2-0. Avera's ground-rule double in the third plated Whitley to cut the lead to 2-1 for Rochester.

Bergman laced a RBI triple to left center to score Lapekas in the bottom half of the third before the Yellowjackets answered with three runs in the fourth. Jackson Reed's fielder's choice scored John Moses followed by a RBI single from Whitley and then Reed scored the final run for Rochester on a VC error.

Freshman Addison Lee took the loss for Vassar as he threw five innings, allowing two hits, four runs (two earned) and walked four. Senior Joe Sabo and sophomore Luke Barrientos each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.

Sammy Rosenfield earned the win for Rochester as he pitched four innings and gave up three hits, three runs, three walks and struck out five. Matt Casiero and Thomas Blaydes added a scoreless inning each in relief and Aaronson picked up his eighth save of the season in the seventh inning.

Bergman recorded two hits and a RBI while Silvera and Lapekas each tallied a hit for the Brewers. Whitley, Avera and Rende each registered a hit for Rochester while Whitley, Avera and Reed each had a RBI.

Vassar returns to action on Wednesday afternoon with a non-conference matchup with New Paltz at 4:00 p.m.