April 1, 2007
Box Score
Williamsburg, VA - William & Mary defeated Wagner 14-12 in an offensive slugfest to complete the three-game sweep earlier today at Plumeri Field. The Seahawks (4-14) ninth-inning rally fell just short as the Tribe (19-13) completed the three-game series-sweep.
Every Seahawk regular recorded at least one hit with six posting multi-hit games led by freshman Damian Csakai (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) and sophomore Peter Delleani (Manalapan, NJ / CBA). Csakai went 2-2 with two runs, two walks and was not retired in six plate appearances. He went 7-9 in the series with five stolen bases and has now reached base safely in 14 of his last 16 plate appearances with a sacrifice bunt. Delleani was 2-6 with an RBI triple and a three-run home run, his third of the year.
Each team recorded 17 hits however the Seahawks left 10 runners on base while the Tribe only stranded four.
Csakai continued his assault on William & Mary pitchers with an infield hit to start the game, which would set the tone for the game. He then stole second and was brought home on Delleani's triple to deep right field. Freshman Vin Avella (Manalapan, NJ / CBA) then reached safely on catcher's interference. Senior Matt Mastrianni (Ringoes, NJ / Hunterdon Central) then blasted the first pitch he saw through the right side to bring home Delleani to give the Seahawks a 2-0 lead. The Tribe got those two runs back in the bottom of the inning on a pair of singles and a double.
In the third Avella popped a 3-1 pitch up to the catcher, who dropped the ball in foul territory to give the red-hot Avella another chance at the plate. He took fuel advantage of the extra opportunity blasting his first career home run over the left field wall to give Wagner the lead back at 3-2 while reaching base safely for the ninth-straight time. The Green & White had a chance to add to their lead as Mastrianni picked up the second of his three hits and senior Ed Sudol (Wallington, NJ / Wallington) singled through an opening in the left side but were left stranded. William and Mary took their first lead in bottom of the inning by with two runs on a walk, double and single.
Continuing with the back-and-forth theme Wagner responded right away in the fifth when sophomore Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) had an infield single and Csakai reached base safely after getting hit by a pitch. Senior Joseph DiGeronimo (Hawthorne, NJ / Hawthorne) tied the game up with a double down the left field line, bringing home Drechsel and moving Csakai to third. Avella then drove in Csakai with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to make it 5-4 Wagner. DiGeronimo's hit also extended his hitting streak to 20 games.
The Tribe quickly answered with three runs on three hits to back in front by a score of 7-5 and added two more in the fifth after loading the bases with no outs. Mastrianni then blasted his second home run of the year, a solo shot to right-center, to make it 9-6. William & Mary got the run back in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the seventh, freshman Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) became the ninth Seahawk to get a base hit when he singled to the shortstop. Classmate Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) brought him around with a triple to right field while chasing reliever Jimmy Drury. Drechsel greeted reliever Warrick Staines with his second infield-single of the day, bringing home McDonnell and cutting the lead to 10-8.
William & Mary would answer yet again with four runs to go up 14-8.
The Green & White would not go quietly into the night as they loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with one out. DiGeronimo reached on a fielder's choice while scoring McDonnell to make it 14-9. Delleani then followed with a three-run blast over the left-field wall to make it 14-12. That would be it for the Seahawk-rally as reliever Pete Vernon closed out the Green & White for the third-straight game.
Freshman AJ Pirozzi (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) took the loss falling to 1-2 on the season after starting and going 4.0 innings. Pat Kantekecvich improved to 3-0 on the season after striking out four over five innings.
The Seahawks return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Big East foe Rutgers for a 3 pm tilt.
