April 6, 2007
Box Score
Game One Box
Fairfield, CT - Wagner senior Morgan Miller (Las Vegas, NV / Silverado) and freshman Kate Eshelman (Reno, NV / McQueen) combined for 14 shutout innings while allowing just three hits as the Seahawks swept host Sacred Heart University 2-0 and 5-0 earlier today in Northeast Conference play. The sweep ends a seven game losing skid for Wagner, which improves to 2-2 in the NEC and 10-12 for the season. The Pioneers fell to 1-3 in the league and 6-14 overall.
Miller (4-5) matched the Wagner school record with her 14th career shutout in the opener allowing just one hit and one walk with six strikeouts in seven complete innings. After retiring the first 12 batters in order, the three time First Team All-NEC selection allowed a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth for the first Pioneer base runner of the game. Miller easily retired the next three in order as she continued her no-hit bid into the seventh inning, when Melissa Mezzanotte wrecked the opportunity with two outs with doubled to left. The Las Vegas products finest performance of the season was then complete as she forced the final out on a fly to left.
In the circle for the Pioneers, Megan Spehar matched, through the first four innings before a two out single by grad student Joy Gallagher (Hazleton, PA / Hazleton) produced Wagner's first hit of the game.
The Seahawks still had just the one hit as the game stood in a scoreless tie until senior Christina Hopkins (Edison, NJ / Edison) belted a leadoff double at the start of the sixth inning. One out later Eshelman knocked in the first run of the game with a triple to right center as Wagner held a 1-0 lead.
Junior Ami Iwicki (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) added an insurance run in the top of the seventh bringing in junior Victoria Batistelli (Huntington Beach, CA / Huntington Beach) with a two out double that accounted for all the runs Wagner would need with Miller cruising on the mound.
In game two it was Eshelman's turn to impress. The rookie from Reno, NV allowed just two hits while throwing her third shutout of the season. Eshelman (5-5), who struckout nine and walked two, held the Pioneers hitless until a two out single in the third. She then sent the next 11 batters down in order before another harmless one out single in the seventh.
Junior Katie Stevens (Reno, NV / Wooster) and Gallagher got the Wagner offense going in the fourth inning with a solo home run each. Stevens brought the juice with her second dinger of the year leading off the frame before Gallagher followed with a blast of her own one out later.
The Seahawks went on top 3-0 in the fifth as Eshelman drew a walk and moved to second on a single from Stevens. The Reno connection continued as sophomore Andrea Lazzari (Reno, NV / Wooster) brought Eshelman home with a two out single up the middle.
In the seventh, senior Natalie Stephens (Jackson, NJ / Jackson) singled and scored as Stevens reached on a error before Eshelman scored again on a RBI ground out from Lazzari for a 5-0 Seahawk advantage.
Stevens, Batistelli, Gallagher and Iwicki each had two hits on the day.
Wagner continues NEC play on the road tomorrow when they travel for Fairleigh Dickinson for a double header.
Game 1 R H E
Wagner 2 5 1
Sacred Heart 0 1 1
Game 2 R H E
Wagner 5 8 0
Sacred Heart 0 2 1
