Port Charlotte, Fla. - The Mount Saint Mary College Baseball team split a doubleheader on Sunday as it lost to Denison 13-2 in the first contest and then responded to pull off a comeback victory against local foe Vassar 5-3 in the night contest. Ryan Lutinski's (Easton, Conn.) two RBI double in the bottom of the eighth put the Knights on top for the win in the nightcap.

Game 1: Denison 13 - Mount Saint Mary 2

The Big Red struck early and often in the first contest as they scored the first 10 runs of the game. Denison got 12 hits in the first three innings as they chased Mount starter Christian Spano (Mahopac, N.Y.) from the game early.

The Knights finally got on the board in the top of the eighth on a Lutinski sacrifice fly that knocked in Braden Perry (Brockport, N.Y.). The Mount got the second run of the day after Liam Merlin (Reading, Mass.) RBI walk in the top of ninth as the Knights finished the game with nine hits.

Spano took the loss as he finished the day with three innings, allowing 12 hits and eight earned runs. Anthony Caminitti (Mahopac, N.Y.) added three innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits. 

Nick Rizzo (Smithtown, N.Y.) was 2-for-3 on the day and Merlin was 1-for-1 including two walks and a RBI. The Knights committed six errors in the loss.

Game 2: Mount Saint Mary 5 - Vassar 3

After two scoreless innings, Vassar struck first on RBI singles from Cameron Skudin and Sam Brinster. The Knights countered by scratching out a run in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI groundout by Jack Goodwin (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) 

Vassar pushed its lead back to two following a RBI sac bunt by Skudin in the top of the fifth and Goodwin once again countered with a RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to drive in John Santana (Warwick, N.Y.) to cut the lead to one.

The Mount struck big in the bottom of the eighth as Steven Mirra (Wallingford, Conn.) led the inning off with a walk. Santana followed it up with a bunt single down the third base line. After a Matt Barbieri (New Paltz, N.Y.) walk to load the bases, Goodwin earned his third RBI of the game on a groundout to first to tie the game at three. Lutinski then came through with a two RBI double to right-center field to give the Knights a two run lead.

Michael DiGiovanni (Shirley, N.Y.) came in to close the game out in the top of the ninth to earn his second save of the season. Barbieri earned the win with eight innings, allowing zero earned runs on three hits and struck out five.

Four players had two hits on the game as Santana had a team-high two runs scored in the game.

At 4-3 overall, Mount Saint Mary returns to action on Monday afternoon in Port Charlotte as they take on SUNY Cobleskill. First pitch at North Charlotte Regional Park is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.