Garnet Baseball Sweeps Vassar to Break Six-Game Skid
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Swarthmore baseball team (5-6) is back on the winning track thanks to clean sweep of the Vassar College Brewers (2-4) on Saturday afternoon at Prentiss Field. The Garnet held the Brewers to three runs for a 9-3 win in game one and held on for a 10-7 win in game two.
GAME 1
Gill blasted a two-run home run to give the Garnet an early 4-1 lead in game one.
In the first game, the Garnet snapped a 1-1 tie with a four unearned runs in the fourth inning and junior Neil Mejia kept the Brewers from a comeback, giving up just one run through the first six innings.
Vassar struck first with a two-out RBI single in the bottom half of the first inning by Conor Gallager.
The Garnet tied the game in the top of the third as junior shortstop Thomas Nakamura led off the inning with a single through the right side, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from junior outfielder Ben Schneiderman, and came home on a sacrifice line drive to centerfield from leadoff hitter sophomore Mike Waterhouse.
With the game tied 1-1 heading into the fourth, the Garnet got some breathing room with a four-run inning, all unearned. Sophomore second baseman Anthony Montalbano led off the inning with a bunt, advancing to second on a passed ball, and a one-out error allowed sophomore third baseman Spencer Ross to reach and Montalbano to score. MacGregor induced a ground out for the second out, but the Brewers were unable to escape the inning as senior outfielder Jimmy Gill blasted a two-run home run over the left field fence to give Swarthmore a 4-1 lead.
The Garnet plated one more before Vassar could get out of the inning, as Nakamura singled, advanced to second on a passed ball and came home on an RBI single from junior Ben Schneiderman. Sophomore catcher Miles Santo added a home run in the sixth, blasting a shot over the deepest part of the center field fence and the Garnet scored three more the seventh for a 9-1 lead.
The Brewers attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh plating two runs but sophomore Ignacio Rodriguez would close the game with three quick outs to end the game.
Mejia earned the win, improving to 2-1 on the season. Mejia pitched six-plus innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and four walks.
GAME 2
The Garnet started off the second game with two quick runs in the first as Montalbano and sophomore first baseman
Ross knocked in two runs on an RBI triple in Game two.
Michael Cameron both drew walks and then came around to score on a deep double to centerfield from Ross.
Swarthmore added another run in the second inning as Nakamura reached on a one-out walk, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and came home on a single to left field from Waterhouse. A long RBI double to left center from Cameron scored Santo in the third and a two-run RBI from Gill gave the Garnet a 7-0 lead, chasing Brewer starter Scott Allen from the mound.
The Brewers got on board in the bottom of the fourth as Costanzo reached first on a dropped third strike, advanced to second on Gallagher’s single through the right side, and scored when junior outfielder Devon Luongo singled through the left side.
Vassar tacked on two more in the sixth as Gallagher sent a one-out single to left field, Luongo followed him on base with a walk, and junior second baseman Joe Castilla loaded the bases with a base hit. Junior catcher Mike Plude drew a walk to plate Gallagher, and a fielder’s choice from Murphy scored Luongo.
The Brewers were unable to get any closer in the inning and the Garnet added three more in the top of the seventh off a two-RBI triple from Ross and an RBI double from Gill for the 10-3 lead.
Vassar again threatened a comeback in the bottom of the seventh as the Brewers loaded the bases with no outs as Bubar singled, Glantz reached on a fielder’s choice, and Costanzo walked, chasing junior reliever James Bernard with senior Zach Sinemus entering the game. Gallagher welcomed Sinemus with a two-RBI single through the right side to cut the Garnet lead to 10-5. Castilla drew a two-out walk to load the bases, bringing Plude to the plate. Plude sent a shot to centerfield and though Schneiderman made the diving catch, confusion among the Swarthmore defense allowed Costanzo and Gallagher to score.
Sinemus escaped the inning by inducing a groundout from the next batter to give the Garnet the two game sweep.
Freshman starter Dylan Jensen (1-1) earned his first collegiate win for the Garnet, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
Ross went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs, Gill was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Cameron was 2-for-3 with one RBI and three runs.
The Garnet return to action on Sunday when Maine Presque Isle visits Clothier Field for a doubleheader beginning at 12:30 p.m.