BOX SCORE

West Long Branch, NJ – Paul Bottigliero hit three home runs with seven RBI in leading Monmouth to a 13-7 Northeast Conference (NEC) victory over Wagner in the first of four games between the teams at the MU Baseball Field. The Seahawks are now an even 14-14 and 4-5 in the NEC while the Hawks improve to 18-14 and 7-2 in the NEC.

The Green & White jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning before loading the bases with one out but were unable to further dent the scoreboard. Monmouth then rallied for 13 unanswered runs while pushing the lead out to 13-4 in the fourth inning. Wagner would score three times in the ninth, providing the final 13-7 tally.

After 549 plate appearances without a long ball, junior Damian Csakai (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) led off the game with his first career home run, a blast over the left field fence, giving Wagner a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Jared Gruccio (Landisville, NJ / Buena Regional) was then hit by a pitch before junior Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) extended the Seahawk lead out to 3-0 with a mammoth two-run home run over the left field fence.

The Hawks immediately responded with five runs in the bottom part of the first. Brett Holland and Ryan Terry began the game with consecutive singles up the middle. Nick Pulsonetti then walked to load the bases. After Wagner starter RHP Kyle Morrison (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) struck out Rick Niederhaus on three pitches, Chris Collazo cut the lead to 3-1 while reaching on an error. Bottigliero followed with the big blow, a grand slam deep over the center field fence.

The Seahawks cut the lead to 5-4 in the top of the second. Csakai was a hit by a pitch before moving to second with his NEC-leading 20th stolen base of the year. Gruccio advanced him over to third with a single to center field before Avella made it 5-4 with a sacrifice fly that scored Csakai.

Monmouth added three runs to the lead in the bottom of the second, using three hits, extending the lead out to 8-4 while chasing Morrison after 2.0 innings.

Bottigliero greeted Wagner reliever freshman RHP Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) with his second home run, a solo shot left center, pushing the lead out to 9-4.

Monmouth put the game away with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by Bottigliero's third home run of the game, a two-run shot to deep center.

After allowing four runs in the first two innings, Monmouth starter Kyle Breese settled down, scattering just two hits over his last six innings of work while retiring 14 of the last 15 batters he faced. The left-hander improved to 4-2 on the year striking out four while yielding four runs on six hits and two walks over 8.0 innings. Morrison took the loss, falling to 5-2.

Gruccio was 2-2 with a run while Avella went 1-3 with his NEC-leading 10th home run of the year to lead the way for Wagner. Csakai also was 1-2 with his first collegiate home run, two runs and his NEC-leading 20th stolen base. Csakai is now 74-78 over his career on the basepaths and moved past former teammate Joey DiGeronimo for second on the all-time stolen base list.

Junior Brian Miller (Pittsburgh, PA / North Hills) and sophomore David Rees (Staten Island, NY / Xavier) were efficient in relief, hurling 4.0 innings of hitless relief.

The teams resume their series with a doubleheader tomorrow at 12:00 pm.