BOX SCORE

Staten Island, NY – Senior RHP Andrew Huebner (Hatfield, PA / North Penn) notched his school-record tying 13th career save with a 1-2-3 ninth as Wagner defeated Lafayette 5-3 in non-conference action at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in the Seahawks' home-opener. Huebner, who set the Wagner single-season record with 11 a year ago, tied former pitcher Chris Pariseau, who notched 13 from 1996-2000.

With the win, Wagner improves to 7-6 while Lafayette falls to 8-11. The teams have alternated wins and losses in each of the last six years, with the home team winning each time.

Huebner's first save of the year punctuated an outstanding performance by the Green & White bullpen as three Seahawk relievers limited the Leopards to just one hit and one walk over 6.0 innings of relief. Sophomore Ian Karlsson (Brooklyn, NY / Xaverian) improved to 1-0 with the win, hurling 3.0 innings of no-hit ball while striking out two, before being relieved by senior Kevin Rush (Metuchen, NJ / Metuchen), who pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning.

With the score tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Joe Jamison (West Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) led off with a single through the left side. After a pair of outs, senior Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive. Freshman Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) then delivered a pinch-hit two-run double to right center, plating Jamison and Drechsel, making it 5-3 Wagner. On the year, Higgins is now 3-4 (.750) as a pinch hitter.

The Leopards had tied it up in the top of third with two runs, erasing a 3-1 Wagner lead that was attained in the bottom of the second when sophomore Brian Martutartus (Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon) hit his second career home run, a three-run shot to left field, plating classmate Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) and Drechsel. Both of Martutartus' home runs have been the first of the year at home for the Seahawks. He hit the first-ever Wagner home run in Richmond County Bank Ballpark last year and the first in the home opener this year.

Lafayette took the early lead with a first-inning run. Jeff Butler hit a one-out triple off the top of the fence in right center and was brought home on a Dan Bierce sacrifice fly.

Wagner recorded nine hits, led by Drechsel and Martutartus, who each went 2-3. Adam McMahon and Brad Weiss each recorded a pair of hits to lead the way for Lafayette. Jack Rems gave up both runs in the sixth inning to fall to 0-1 on the year.

The Green & White hosts Maine in the first of four at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Friday, March 27 at 3:00 pm.