May 12, 2007

Box Score

Staten Island, NY - Despite senior shortstop Joseph DiGeronimo (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) becoming Wagner's all-time hits leader, the Seahawks couldn't figure out the Blue Devils as they dropped a doubleheader this afternoon at Dr. Billl Willetts Field to Central Connecticut State, 13-0 in the first game and then in heartbreaking fashion the second, 3-1. They now drop to a record of 14-32 overall and 8-15 in the NEC while CCSU improves to 23-19 overall and 14-9 in the NEC.

In the first game, with one out and nobody on in the first inning, DiGeronimo didn't waste any time to surpass former Chicago Cubs farmhand and 2001 graduate Mike Cerminaro for the all-time career Wagner hits mark when he singled to left on a 1-2 pitch from Blue Devils' left-hander Matt Gianini. It was DiGeronimo's 215th career hit wearing the Green & White - he went two for three in the first game - as he was greeted with polite applause from the crowd gathered at Willett's Field and offered the ball.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, their senior shortstop's accolade was the only real highlight as they ran up against CCSU southpaw who would go on to finish the seven-inning game recording 11 strikeouts while giving up only three hits.

Wagner starter freshman right-hander AJ Pirozzi (Staten Island, NY/Farrell) ran into trouble in the fourth inning when the Blue Devils would go onto bat around the order and put up seven runs on four hits, including a three-run blast over the right field wall from Jak Kidd.

Left-handed freshman reliever Buddy Cipoletti (West Islip, NY/St. John The Baptist), freshman right-hander Tom Queno (Wethersfield, CT/Wethersfield), and freshman right-hander Brian Miller (Pittsburgh, PA/North Hills) were all put in to try and stop the bleeding but the Seahawks' bats couldn't come alive and they were forced to live with the lopsided final, 13-0.

In the second game, however, it was the Seahawks who got on the board first.

After DiGeronimo had reached on an error by the shortstop in their half of the fourth, he stole second which put him in scoring position with their senior leftfielder Matt Mastrianni (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) at the plate. Mastrianni came through with a single to right field that drove in DiGeronimo and gave Wagner a slim 1-0 advantage.

Unfortunately, that lead wouldn't last very long.

The next half inning - the top of the fifth - the Blue Devils would turn the tables and go up on the Seahawks with some help from a lead-off homerun to right center that tied it, and two RBI base hits that would allow them to take it, 3-1.

Wagner attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh when junior first baseman Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ/CBA) led off with a base hit. He was then pinch ran for in the form of freshman infielder Mike Musak (Syracuse, NY/Westhill). The Blue Devils then put in their hard-throwing closer Evan Scribner who for the second straight day shut the door on the Green & White without giving up a hit and leaving Musak on the base path. That was the final, 3-1.

Red-shirt freshman righthander Matt Watson (Howell, NJ/Howell) took the loss, he's now 1-5 on the year.

With the second loss today the Seahawks are now officially eliminated from vying for the last NEC tournament spot.

Tommorow it's one more nine-inning game between these two teams at Willetts Field to wrap up the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for noon.