Bard Baseball Splits Doubleheader Duel With Vassar

By Pearllan Cipriano

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON – The Bard baseball team fell short of a doubleheader sweep and playoff berth, splitting the doubleheader against Vassar on Sunday afternoon. The Raptors won 5-4 in Game 1, before falling 11-1 in Game 2 at Honey Field.

Bard came out fighting in Game 1, getting on the board in the bottom of the first after a leadoff triple by Sam Dumper, whowas brought home by a Rob DeBello sac-fly. The Raptors added another run in the bottom of the third with Dumper doubling and DeBello bringing him home with an RBI single to center field. Vassar struck back with three runs in the top of the fourth to take back the lead.

Bard loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth and tied the game with Burcell drawing a bases-loaded walk. The Brewers answered back in the next frame with an RBI single, but Bard kept their momentum going, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off an RBI single by Dumper and a sac-fly RBI by DeBello to give Bard a 5-4 lead. Dumper had a perfect game going 4-for-4 and nearly had a cycle and would have been the second Raptor to ever do it, but was prevented by Vassar in his fifth at-bat; when he was intentionally walked. Dumper had a triple, double and two singles.

Kane Morgan had an incredible outing on the mound, getting his first win of the season, and struck out five players in 6.0 innings pitched. Nikhil Newman pitched in the top of the seventh and prevented the Brewers from scoring. Tom Maxwell had his best pitching coming in on the eighth inning, going 1-2-3, and in the top of the ninth had two consecutive strikeouts, before Bryant Elliott came in to relieve him. Elliott had the bases loaded and needed just one out to keep Bard in playoff contention. Elliott got his first save of the season and fourth in his career, placing him tied for second all-time with Murphy Foss.

In Game 2, it was a pitchers’ battle between Charlie Lehr and Grant Maryott. With the game on the line for who gets the playoff spot, both pitchers were throwing well, with Maryott only letting one hit in his first five innings pitched, while Lehr had a career-high seven strikeouts and stranded four runners in his 5.1 innings pitched.

Vassar did not get a run on the board until the top of the sixth as the Brewers broke through Lehr, who threw over 100 pitches. Vassar scored four runs in the inning and added three more in the next inning to take a 7-0 lead. Bard was still fighting and got a run scored from a sac-fly by Jamie Fryer to bring home DeBello, who doubled. The Brewers added four more runs in the top of the ninth to extend their lead and ensure their playoff spot.

Lehr threw 5.1 innings with only one earned run. Elise Berger, Dylan Conte, Henry Hubner and Evan Landsman all came out of the bullpen. Conte and Hubner each got a strikeout, while Landsman had two strikeouts.

Bard will face New Paltz on Wednesday for their last game of the season. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Raptors are partnering with Bard’s Morgan’s Message to help raise awareness of student-athletes’ mental health.