March 18, 2008
Box Score
Orlando, FL - Despite another outstanding performance from sophomore Kyle Morrison (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) the Wagner Seahawks were denied 5-1 by No. 16 UCF. With the win, the Golden Knights improve to 18-1 while the Seahawks are 4-5.
Morrison (0-1) struck out eight and walked just one while yielding three runs over 7.0 innings of work. Over his last 13.0 innings of work, spanning two games, the righty has struck out 16 and walked just two.
The Seahawks had their chances as they stranded nine runners, including seven over the first four innings. UCF, meanwhile, scored three runs with two outs.
The Golden Knights took the early lead 1-0 in the top of the first on a pair of hits. The Green & White responded in the second with back-to-back singles, leading off the frame, from sophomore Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) and freshman Jack Rice (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata). In what would be the story of the night, the offense could not capitalize.
In the third, the Seahawks loaded the bases on walks from freshman Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) and McDonnell, sandwiched between a Jon Lucas (Fr., Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) hit, but again could not push a runner across.
After allowing the first inning run, Morrison settled down, yielding just two hits over the next three frames.
In the bottom of the fifth, UCF struck for two runs. Josh Siebanaler hit an RBI triple to deep right field with one out and was brought home on a grounder on the next play, making it 3-0 Golden Knights.
The Seahawks would finally dent the run column in the sixth. Junior Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) laced a two-out single to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) then battled back from a 0-2 count and drilled a RBI single to left-center to score Drechsel.
Morrison continued to pick up steam and got stronger as the game went on. After yielding Siebanaler's triple, Morrison retired seven in a row, including four in a row via the K, and exited down 3-1 after seven.
In the bottom of the eighth, UCF's Eric Kallstrom hit a two-out two-RBI single up the middle to extend the lead out to 5-1.
Wagner mustered just one hit over the final three frames in dropping their second-straight to the Golden Knights 5-1.
Caleb Graham (1-1) picked up the win, striking out six while yielding four walks and three hits over 5.0 scoreless innings.
Conforti led the Green & White at the plate, going 2-3 with one RBI, one stolen base and a walk.
Wagner had six hits on the day while seven different UCF players recorded hits.
The two teams will wrap up their three-game set tomorrow night at 6:30 pm. Senior LHP Joe Testa (Brick, NJ / Brick) is slated to oppose Matt Goodyear.
