Vassar Brewers Split with Stout Saturday

FORT MYERS, FL – The Vassar College baseball team shook off a 7-3 loss in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader with the University of Wisconsin-Stout to earn game two 13-3 in action from the Player Development Complex Field No. 2 in play from the Gene Cusic Classic.

Game 1 – Wisconsin-Stout 7, Vassar 3

Wisconsin-Stout scored five runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth to pull away for the game one victory, as Hayden Bowe went the distance for the Blue Devils in the victory. Austin Littman led Stout in game one, as he posted three hits in three at-bats, scoring twice.

Vassar got on the board first in the bottom of the third, plating three runs off of Bowe to put the Brewers on top. In the inning, Nick Johnson started the inning with a ringing double to center field, and after Erik Strickland was hit by a pitch, Cory Wuenschell doubled in a run down the left field line. After a run scoring wild pitch, Dakota Sagnelli drove in Wuenschell on a sacrifice fly.

Stout battled back in the fourth, plating five runs, highlighted by a two-run single by Hunter Dicus and a double by Noah Brown that plated a pair. Wisconsin-Stout added two runs in the fifth inning, getting an RBI double from Littman who eventually scored on a wild pitch.

That was all the offense that Bowe would need, as he tossed seven innings while allowing three earned runs and five hits, earning the win. Vassar was led offensively by Wuenschell, who went 1-for-3 with a run and RBI. Matt Hernandez and Denis Shanagher each added hits as well for VC, while Robert Winkelmann worked a perfect inning of relief.

Sophomore John Madsen also added a scoreless inning out of the bullpen, as Vassar chalked up its third game without an error already this season. Johnny Mrlik made the start for Vassar, allowing five runs on seven hits, striking out four, while Jesse Mulham allowed two hits and two runs in 1.2 innings of work.

Game 2 – Vassar 13, Wisconsin-Stout 3

Sophomore Eric Strickland went 2-for-4 with five RBI including a grand slam in the seven-run second inning for Vassar, as the Brewers knocked off the Blue Devils. All but one Vassar starter had at least hit on the contest, as Vassar moved to 3-4 on the season.

UW-Stout (6-5) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, as Joe Krueger drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to score Josh Halling. That’s all that the Blue Devils would get in the inning though, as Vassar starter Jonathan Hong worked out of a bases loaded, no-out jam to allow just one run thanks to an inning-ending double play ball.

Vassar wasted no time getting the run back in the top of the second inning, sending 10 batters to the plate while chalking up seven runs. Shanagher drive in a run with an RBI single, followed by a run scoring walk from Brooks English. The big blow came from Strickland, as he plated Johnson, Bobby Kinne and English, turning on a 3-2 fast ball and hammering it over the right field wall.

VC added five more runs in the fifth inning, all coming with two outs. In the frame, Brooks English drove in Matt Hernandez with a single, followed by run scoring hits from Johnson, Strickland and Matt Schwartz. In the sixth inning, Chris Lee added to the Brewer lead with his first collegiate knock, driving in Johnson.

That was more than enough offense for the Brewer staff to work with, as Hong earned the win after surrendering six hits and three earned runs, walking two on 62 pitches. Freshman righty Joe Conti picked up the three-inning save, fanning two while allowing just one runner.

English finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Hernandez was 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Johnson added two hits and three runs scored, while Kinne was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Taylor Smach added a hit in three at-bats, crossing home once as well for the Brewers. VC posted 15 hits for the game, 13 of which were singles.

Nate Sorenson was 2-for-2 for UW-Stout, connecting on the Blue Devil’s lone extra base hit. UW-Stout got 3.1 innings of relief from Patrick Gullickson, as he allowed no earned runs (five total) on nine hits.