March 2, 2008
Box Score
Miami, FL - Wagner jumped out to a pair of early leads only to see Florida International answer each time in a hard-fought 8-3 win over the Seahawks. The feisty Seahawks out-hit the Golden Panthers (11-9) and had runners on base in every inning but stranded 11 runners, including seven over the final four frames. Sophomore Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms), one of last night's heroes, matched last year's home run total with his second shot in as many games and led the way going 3-4 with a home run, double and two RBI.
Wagner is now 1-3 while FIU improves to 4-5, after taking three-of-four in the weekend series.
The Green & White picked up right where they left off from last night's win going in front 1-0 in the top of the first. Sophomore Damian Csakai (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) was hit by a pitch. He then stole second before being plated on a single up the middle off the bat of freshman Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy). FIU tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the first.
McDonnell then blasted a home run to lead off the second inning, giving Wagner the 2-1 lead.
Matt Watson (Howell, NJ / Howell) yielded just one unearned run and not allowing a hit. The sophomore righty was tagged for three runs in the fourth on two hits in the fourth as the Golden Panthers went ahead 4-2.
FIU added one more run in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-2.
In the top of the sixth, Wagner got that run back. McDonnell singled up the middle, plating sophomore Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA), who singled to lead off the inning, while chasing FIU starter Jorge Ramos. The Green & White had the opportunity to do more damage, loading the bases with two outs but were subdued by FIU reliever Kyle Preshong.
Watson was relieved by junior Andrew Huebner (Hatfield, PA / North Penn) and the flame-throwing righty kept the FIU bats at bay throwing 3.0 solid innings of relief, yielding just one earned run and striking out two while not walking a batter.
After Huebner exited the Golden Panthers struck for two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to go in front 8-3. Wagner would get a two-out rally in the top of the ninth with a pair of hits but could not recapture the magic from last night.
Avella had his third-straight multi-hit game, going 3-5 while Boyd had two hits to round out the top-performers for the Green & White.
Ramos (1-0) struck out six over 5.1 innings while yielding three runs in earning the win. Watson (0-1) took the loss and gave up just two hits over 4.0 innings.
Wagner heads to the city of brotherly love on Friday at 2:30 when it plays at Temple.
