POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Despite rallying from a 7-0 deficit and carrying a one-run lead into the ninth inning, the Mount Saint Mary College baseball team dropped a 10-9 decision to Vassar College on Wednesday at Prentiss Field. The Knights tumbled to 3-15 on the year, while the Brewers bumped up to 5-11.

After seeing their 7-0 lead turn into a 9-8 deficit heading into the top of the ninth and final inning, the Brewers found themselves down to three outs. Senior outfielder Ari Glantz (Cambridge, Mass.) atoned for an error in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff double to left center, his second double of the game. Knights reliever Ben Shortslef (Sterling, N.Y.) got a flyout from the next batter, but junior designated hitter Joe Castilla (Weston, Fla.) tied the game with a single through the right side to score Glantz. A fielder's choice from sophomore second baseman Liam Lee (East Hampton, N.Y.) erased Castilla from the base paths, bringing freshman catcher David Keith (Short Hills, N.J.) to the plate with two outs. Lee stole second, and although Keith was 0-for-4 up to that point, he laced his first career hit to right field to score Lee with what would prove to be the winning run.

Sophomore Race Bottini (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) pitched the ninth inning, sending the Knights down in order to record his first career save. Freshman Lawrence Flicker (Plantation, Fla.) pitched the eighth inning and earned the win to improve to 2-2, allowing one earned run on two hits with one walk. Shortslef took the loss in two-thirds of an inning, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk.

The Brewers pounded out 18 hits on the day, paced by a 5-for-5, two RBI, four-run performance from Glantz including two doubles and a triple. Sophomore outfielder Sal Costanzo (Cooper City, Fla.) was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, two runs, and two doubles. Lee was 3-for-5 with two stolen bases while Castilla went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Although not recording a hit until the fifth inning, the Knights amassed 11 hits, led by sophomore Brian McNoble (Lynbrook, N.Y.) who was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and a home run. Senior Mike Umphlett (North Stonington, Conn.) and freshman Michael Matuk (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) both went 2-for-5 with one run and two RBIs, while sophomore Max Tecce (Glen Head, N.Y.) and senior Rich DeRosa (Valley Stream, N.Y.) added two hits apiece.

The Brewers got off to a quick start at the plate, scoring seven runs on 11 hits off Knight starter Marc Soevyn (Elmont, N.Y.) to take a 7-0 lead into the fifth inning. However, the Mount turned things around in a hurry, scoring five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth. McNoble, DeRosa, and Matuk all had RBI singles, Umphlett added an RBI triple, and sophomore Louis Peisel (Brewster, N.Y.) reached on an error to score Matuk for the final run of the inning.

The Brewers responded with a run in the top of the sixth to take an 8-6 lead as Glantz sent an RBI double to left center. However, Mount Saint Mary drew within one run in the bottom of the inning as McNoble hit a two-run home run to score Tecce who led off the inning with a single.

The Knights took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eight inning. McNoble drew a one-out walk from Flicker, with freshman Mike Moosbrugger (Sound Beach, N.Y.) entering to pinch run. DeRosa moved Moosbrugger to second with a two-out single and then an Umphlett single scored Moosbrugger to tie the game. Senior Wilson Rosa (Fort Lee, N.J.) came in as a pinch runner and scored the go-ahead run when an outfield miscommunication allowed a Matuk flyball to fall to the grass.

Mount Saint Mary returns to action tomorrow against SUNY New Paltz. The Knights will take on the Hawks in a 4:00 p.m. start at New Paltz.