April 16, 2008

Box Score

South Orange, NJ - Greg Miller's bases loaded single in the bottom of the 10th lifted Seton Hall to a 3-2 win over Wagner in non-conference action at Owen T. Carroll Field. The Green & White are now 13-16 while the Pirates improve to 23-13.

Trailing 1-0 entering the eighth, Matt Smedberg singled home Bobby Abreu, who had reached on an error, to tie the game up at 1-1 Chris Affinito followed with a triple to right field to give Seton Hall its first lead of the day at 2-1.

The lead would be short-lived. Freshman Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) doubled off of Seton Hall closer Matt Singer to lead off the ninth. Sophomore Damian Csakai (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) then laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt that the Singer threw into right field, allowing Boyd to score and Csakai to head to third with no outs. Classmate Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) came to plate and scorched a line-drive that, unfortunately, was right at the second baseman. On the ensuing play, Csakai was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice. Junior Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) smoked a two-out single to left field, but the Seahawks would not be able to regain the lead.

After junior RHP Andrew Huebner (Hatfield, PA / North Penn) retired the Pirates in order in the bottom of the ninth, Singer followed suit in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the frame, A.J. Rusbarsky laid down a bunt single with one out. After moving over to second on a ground out, Smedberg hit an infield single that Martutartus corralled to keep Rubarsky from scoring. The excitement was short-lived as after an intentional walk Greg Miller followed with the second infield hit of the inning, beating Brian Martutartus' (Fr., Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon) throw.

Huebner falls to 0-1 on the year, striking out two while yielding two runs, on five hits over 2.0 innings. Singer (3-0) pitched the final 2.0 innings in picking up the win for Seton Hall.

After stranding five runners over the first four frames, Wagner finally broke through in the fifth inning. Martutartus walked to lead off the inning before moving over to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford). Freshman Joe Jamison (West Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) proceeded to walk on four pitches and sophomore Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) delivered with a RBI single through the left side, scoring Martutartus for the game's first run.

Junior righty Andy Wells (Staten Island, NY / St. Peter's) started and went 5.0 innings. Wells didn't allow a hit until the fourth and struck out two while yielding just two hits in his second-straight solid start against a Big East school.

Avella was at it again in the bottom of the sixth, this time in the field. With one out and a runner on first, Affinito blasted a line-drive that Avella dove to snare, doubling up Mark Pappas at first.

Senior LHP Joe Testa (Brick, NJ / Brick) relieved Wells and hurled 2.0 scoreless innings, capping his superb outing with his second strikeout of the day while stranding a runner at second.

Boyd, Csakai and Martutartus each recorded two hits on the day to the lead the offense.

Wagner heads to Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday, April 18 in the first of four games between the two teams. First pitch is slated for 3:30 pm.