May 10, 2008
Box Score
New Britain, CT - Central Connecticut (21-19; 15-6 NEC) shut out Wagner (22-23; 13-8 NEC) 3-0 in the first game of a doubleheader at Beehive Field. The Green & White out-hit the Blue Devils 9-8 but were unable to convert in eight at-bats with runners in scoring position while stranding nine.
Seven different Seahawks hit safely, led by sophomore Kevin Payne (Staten Island, NY / St. Peter's) and freshman Brian Martutartus (Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon), who each had two hits on the day.
Ken Kerski struck out seven and did not issue a walk over 9.0 innings while improving to 3-5 with the complete game shutout.
Sophomore Damian Csakai (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) led off the first with an infield single before stealing his 22nd base in 23 tries on the year. The speedy centerfielder would be stranded as CCSU starter Ken Kerski induced three-straight fly outs.
The Blue Devils struck first with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. Jak Kidd's RBI double opened the game's scoring before Pat Epps' single up the middle made it 2-0.
The Seahawks would again threaten in the top of the second. Sophomore Tom DiPietro (Staten Island, NY / Felician) and Payne each singled but would be stranded.
In the top of the third, sophomore RHP Kyle Morrison (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) retired the first batter of the inning before Casey Walko hit a one-hopper off of Morrison's right hand ending the Wagner starter's day prematurely. Morrison recovered to get Walko at first and allowed two runs on five hits over 2.2 innings of work.
Payne singled for the second time with one out in the fifth. Martutartus followed with a single of his own to right field. However, the pair would be stranded as Kerski induced a fly out and a strikeout.
Martutartus led off the eighth with his second hit of the game, an infield-single. Then with two outs sophomore Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) singled through the right-side, moving Martutartus over to third. Wagner was unable to do anything with the rally, again stranding a pair of runners.
In the bottom of the frame, the Blue Devils added an unearned run when Tommy Meade hit a sacrifice fly to center to make it 3-0.
Junior Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) led off the ninth with a single and advanced over to third when Payne reached via an error with two outs. But as was the story of the game, the pair was stranded as CCSU claimed game-one 3-0.
Morrison took the loss, falling to 4-4 on the year. Freshman Jack Rice (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) entered in relief of Morrison in the bottom of third and gave up just one unearned run over 4.2 innings of work while striking out two.
