March 11, 2007
Box Score
Baltimore, MD - Using a strong offensive-attack and their fourth-straight solid starting-pitching performance the Wagner Seahawks salvaged a game-three win 7-5 over UMBC at the Baseball Factory Field after losing the first two games to the Retrievers. Wagner improves to 2-4 on the season while the Retrievers fall to 3-6.
Freshman AJ Pirozzi (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) struck out three and yielded just one run in 6.0 superb innings while improving to 1-0 with his first collegiate win. The Wagner bats were just as good ripping 16 hits, including seven of the extra-base variety. Every Seahawk-starter reached base safely led by senior Joseph DiGeronimo (Hawthorne, NJ / Hawthorne) and sophomore Pete Delleani (Manalapan, NJ / CBA), who each had four hits. DiGeronimo went 4-4 with a double, triple, two RBI and two stolen bases while Delleani's four-hit day was highlighted by three doubles and a run scored.
The Seahawks dented the scoreboards in the top of the third as freshman Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) tripled high off the left field wall before being brought home a DiGeronimo sacrifice fly.
The Seahawks were back at it in the top of the fifth as Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) led off with a double. Conforti then bunted for a base hit down the third base line and Drechsel advanced home on an errant throw to first, making it 2-0.
UMBC would finally get to Pirozzi in the top of the sixth when Steve Gale singled home Will Delawter to cut it to 3-1. However as he had done all day Pirozzi ended any chance at a rally by coaxing the last two hitters of the inning into routine fly balls. The Seahawks would immediately answer in the top of the seventh as DiGeronimo and senior Matt Mastrianni (Ringoes, NJ / Hunterdon Central) singled to lead off the inning. Classmate Ed Sudol (Wallington, NJ / Wallington) then blasted a single of his own through the right side to bring in DiGeronimo to make it 3-1.
The Green & White would continue to pour it on as freshman Kevin Payne (Staten Island, NY / St. Peter's) led off the eighth with a walk. Drechsel then followed with his second double of the day to move Payne to third. Conforti brought Payne home with a sacrifice fly and Drechsel moved to third and scored on an errant throw by the second baseman to make it 5-1.
Delawter answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning cut the lead to three before the Seahawks added two more insurance-runs in the top of the ninth to take a commanding 7-2 lead into the bottom part of the innings. UMBC would chip away at the lead with three runs before freshman Buddy Cipoletti (West Islip, NY / St. John The Baptist) struck out Rick Phillips with the bases loaded to pick up his first career save and give Wagner the 7-5 victory.
UMBC starter Dan Blewett (0-3) struck out seven but gave up three runs on 12 hits over 7.0 innings in defeat.
The Seahawks will now return to Dr. Bill Willetts Field for their home-opener against Saint Peter's on Tuesday at 3 pm.
