Caspi Grand Slam Gives Brewers Comeback Win

May 4, 2022

With the Brewers trailing 5-8 in the sixth inning, junior Ezra Caspi hit a grand slam to right field to help the Vassar baseball team to a comeback win against Mount Saint Vincent on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Carlisle Stockton

POUGHKEEPSIE – With the Brewers trailing 5-8 in the sixth inning, junior Ezra Caspi hit a grand slam to right field to help the Vassar baseball team to a comeback win against Mount Saint Vincent on Wednesday afternoon. It was Caspi’s first home run of the season as the Brewers (12-18) went on to win 11-8 over the Dolphins (21-15).

Vassar gave up a run in the first inning when Michael Grisanti doubled in Jacob Blinstrub to put the Dolphins on the board. Sophomore pitcher Kyle Flynn remained composed, striking out the following batter to end the inning. The Brewers responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame when Andrew Kanellis singled home Jaden Millstein. Caspi then used a sacrifice fly to allow Kanellis to score and put Vassar up 2-1.

Mount Saint Vincent rallied for five runs in the second inning. A Dolphins runner scored on a fielder’s choice to tie, and a Michael DiNorcia double brought in one run. Another double from Joey DiNorcia made two more runs to make it 2-6.

Vassar picked up some strong pitching from sophomore Michael Came in the third when he struck out two batters in a row.

The Brewers struggled to find any rhythm, going 1-2-3 in the next two innings. A Grisanto sacrifice fly in the fourth, and one run in the sixth pushed the Dolphins’ lead to 2-8.

The seventh inning was all Vassar, as the Brewers retook the lead. After singles from Alex Warren and Bryce Grathwohl, Christian Baaki doubled to left field to bring Warren home.

Grathwohl scored on a wild pitch to cut the score to 4-8. Millstein hit a single to let Baaki score. Vassar loaded the bases, and Caspi came up to bat. Caspi went down 0-2 in the count and then knocked the grand slam to right field to give the Brewers a 9-8 lead.

Mount Saint Vincent took three quick outs in the seventh, and the Brewers tacked on one more run. First-year Birch Herring-Jackson led off with a single to right field, and then Baaki hit a second-straight double for the RBI. Sam Brinster hit a single in the eighth to give first-year Luke Barrientos the run and secure the win.