March 22, 2006
Box Score
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - Behind the dominant pitching of junior Dan Lanzano (East Brunswick, NJ / East Brunswick) and the clutch hitting of freshman Pete Delleani (Manalapan, NJ / CBA) the Wagner College Seahawks picked up their first win of the season with a 7-6 victory over Big East rival Seton Hall earlier today at Carroll Field. With the win the Seahawks improve to 1-11 while the Pirates fall to 6-12.
Lanzano pitched 3.0 scoreless innings of relief, striking out four while facing just one batter over the minimum, to pick up his first collegiate win and improve to 1-1 on the season. Delleani led the offense going 2-4 with a bases-loaded triple and four RBI.
After being held to just one run in the first five innings, the Seahawks' bats awoke in the top of the sixth. After back-to-back walks to senior Nick Papa (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) and freshman Mike Maffucci (Nutley, NJ / Nutley), senior Brian Scrocca (Somerville, NJ / Somerville) blooped a single down the right field line to load the bases and chase Seton Hall starter Andy McNulty. Exhibiting Wagner's renewed patience at the plate, junior Pat Rogers (Middletown, NJ / St. John's) and senior Michael Picarello (Clifton, NJ / Clifton) each drew bases-loaded walks to make the score 4-3 in favor of Seton Hall. Delleani promptly followed with his first collegiate extra-base hit, a bases-clearing triple, to put the Green & White up 6-4.
Seton Hall would rally with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-6.
After a scoreless seventh, Maffucci singled to center to lead off the eighth. Sophomore Chris Marino (Manalapan, NJ / Manalapan), who pinch-ran for Maffucci, then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Scrocca, who also reached safely when the Pirates' Mark Irwin unsuccessfully tried to get Marino out at second base. The pair then advanced to second and third on a balk. After a strikeout, Delleani struck again. After falling behind 1-2, Delleani battled before plating the eventual game-winning run in the form of Marino on a base hit through the right side.
Seton Hall looked prime to rally as they led off the bottom of the eighth with a double. However, from that point on Lanzano was lights out as he retired the last six hitters in order, including striking out two batters in the eighth while stranding a runner on third.
Despite scoring their seven runs on only five hits, the Green & White worked the Pirates' pitchers drawing nine walks and every Seahawk starter reached base safely.
Wagner starter sophomore Joe Testa (Brick, NJ / Brick) turned in a stellar outing, striking out eight while allowing only two earned runs on four hits in 5.0 innings in taking a no-decision.
The Seahawks will look to make it two in a row when they return to New Jersey to take on St. Peter's tomorrow, March 23 at 3 pm.
