April 13, 2006

Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, NY -After falling behind 8-0 in the early going Wagner scored five runs in the final three frames and had the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth, but it was not to be as Manhattan ended the Seahawks rally with a strikeout to win by a score of 8-5. With the loss Wagner is now 5-22 while Manhattan improves to 14-12.

The difference in the game was five Seahawk errors in the first three innings which aided in the Jaspers five early runs. From that point on, Wagner outplayed Manhattan, but the sluggish start was too much for the Seahawks to overcome.

Senior Nick Papa (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) led the Green & White going 2-3 with three RBI, including a two-run single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh that got the Seahawks bats going. Also recording multiple-hits for the 11th time in 12 games was junior Joseph DiGeronimo (Hawthorne, NJ / Hawthorne). DiGeronimo went 2-3 with two walks and a run scored.

Down 8-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Seahawks made one last threat. Sophomore Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) extended his hitting streak to five games with a single to lead off the inning. He was then doubled over to third by pinch-hitter senior Michael Picarello (Clifton, NJ / Clifton). Following a walk to DiGeronimo to load the bases Papa walked on four straight balls to force in Drechsel to make it 8-3. Junior Ed Sudol (Wallington, NJ / Wallington) then grounded into a fielder's choice driving in pinch-runner sophomore Chris Marino (Manalapan, NJ / Manalapan) to make it 8-4 with runners at the corners and one out. Following a strikeout, freshman Mike Maffucci (Nutley, NJ / Nutley) hit a rocket through the right side to cut the lead to 8-5 and bring the tying run to the plate. However Manhattan pitcher Kyle Wirtz got junior Pat Rogers (Middletown, NJ / St. John's) to go down swinging to end the game.

Freshman Kevin Rush (Metuchen, NJ / Metuchen) was the pitcher of record for Wagner falling to 0-2 on the season after giving up four earned runs in 5.0 innings of work. Freshman George Chicolo (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) rounded out the top Seahawk performers striking out three in 2.0 perfect innings of relief. Manhattan's Rene Guerra improved to 3-1 on the year with 5.0 scoreless innings.

The Seahawks will return to action tomorrow when they host Sacred Heart in a key NEC doubleheader starting at 12 pm.