March 26, 2006

Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, NY -Milan Dinga's two home runs, including the game-winner in the top of the 10th, overshadowed arguably the best performance by the Seahawks this season. Dinga's second blast with two outs gave the Black Knights a 4-3 win over the Seahawks. With the win Army improves to 10-8 while Wagner falls to 1-15 on the season.

Today's game saw several impressive performances by the Seahawks. Starter lhp Joe Testa (Brick, NJ / Brick) went 7.0 innings, the longest by a Wagner-starter this season, while striking out six, walking zero and giving up just two earned runs. Junior Joseph DiGeronimo (Hawthorne, NJ / Hawthorne), senior Nick Papa (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) and junior Ed Sudol (Wallington, NJ / Wallington), the Seahawks 1-3 hitters in the order, set the table going a combined 4-12 with three runs scored, two stolen bases and a RBI. Also turning in a great performance, was the Seahawks' bullpen, which gave up just one run and two hits in 3.0 innings while striking out five. Redshirt-junior Andrew Bailey (Hadden Heights, NJ / Paul VI) struck out two hitters in the eighth inning with overpowering stuff in his first appearance in almost a year. Junior Dan Lanzano (E. Brunswick, NJ / E.Brunswick) struck out three in 2.0 innings of work and was the tough-luck loser.

The Seahawks struck first in the bottom of the third as Sudol singled down the right field line driving in DiGeronimo, who had singled earlier in the inning. Army countered in the top of the fourth as Dinga opened the frame with his first homer of the day. Chris Simmons then followed with a single and stole second. After advancing to third on a fly out he scored to make it 2-1 when Jeremy Stache singled to the pitcher. Testa escaped further damage as he picked off Stache and then struck out Kyle Fleming.

The Black Knights tacked on another run in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1 before the Seahawks got to work in the bottom of the inning. DiGeronimo singled for his second hit of the game to lead off the frame, Papa followed up with a single of his own. Sudol was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. The Seahawks then scored two runs on an error by the shortstop on sophomore Dan Morvay's (Jackson, NJ / Jackson Memorial) ground ball. However Sudol was thrown out at third on the play and Army retired the next two Seahawks to prevent further damage.

From that point on it was all pitching as the two teams were held to just four hits and one run over the last 5.0 innings.

Monte Jones picked up the win for Army improving to 1-1 while Lanzano is now 1-2 on the season.

The Seahawks conclude their two-game homestand when they host St. John's on Wednesday, March 29 at 3 pm at Dr. Bill Willetts Field.