April 22, 2008
Box Score
Piscataway, NJ - Rutgers scored four first-inning runs before holding off numerous rallies from Wagner in a 7-3 win at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights improve to 15-21-1 while the Seahawks fall to 15-19.
Rutgers out-hit Wagner 10-6 but the Green & White drew six walks, compared to just three for Rutgers, but were again plagued by their inability to bring runners around, stranding eight, including six over the final five innings.
The Scarlet Knights jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead when Jarred Jimenez hit a two-out grand slam to right-center.
Wagner got on the board in the third. Sophomore Damian Csakai (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) led off with a walk. After stealing second, his NEC-leading 18th swipe of the year, Csakai moved over to third on a ground out. Junior Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) brought Csakai home with a RBI ground out to the shortstop, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
The Seahawks continued to chip away at the lead, scoring twice in the fourth. Freshman Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) laced a one-out double to right field. Sophomore Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) followed with a walk. Then on a failed pick-off attempt by the Rutgers catcher that bounced off first base, Boyd scored all the way from second while Conforti moved over to third. Freshman Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) cut the lead to 4-3 with a sacrifice fly to deep-center, scoring Conforti.
In the bottom of the sixth, Rutgers extended its lead back out to four with three runs. Luis Feliz led off with a walk before a sac bunt moved him over to second. After advancing to third on a Victor Cegles single, Feliz was brought around on Donny Callahan's safety squeeze. On the play, Cegles advanced to third and Callahan to second on a throwing error. The pair would score on back-to-back singles from Dan Betteridge and Tom Edwards to make it 7-3 Rutgers.
The Seahawks would threaten again in the eighth. Sophomore Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) smoked a one-out single to left field. Boyd then reached base safely for the third-straight time with a walk. However, the pair would be stranded as Rutgers reliever Matt Patterson induced a pop-up and a ground out to escape the jam.
In the ninth, Csakai and freshman Brian Martutartus (Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon) each singled with one out before Patterson induced a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.
Boyd went 2-3 with a double, run, stolen base and a walk to lead Wagner.
Tony Wargo (1-3) collected the win for Rutgers, striking out six while allowing three runs over 7.0 innings.
Seahawk starter junior RHP Andy Wells (Staten Island, NY / St. Peter's) struck out four and allowed seven runs over a season-high 6.0 innings in dropping to 0-4 on the year.
Freshman lefty David Rees (Staten Island, NY / Xavier) looked good in relief for the Seahawks, striking out four over 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, highlighted by striking out the side in the bottom of the eighth.
Betteridge collected three hits on the day to lead Rutgers at the plate.
The Seahawks will host Iona tomorrow at 3:30 pm at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark.
