BOX SCORE

Trumbull, CT - Wagner defeated Sacred Heart 5-3 in the first of four games between the two teams while moving into sole possession of first place in the Northeast Conference (NEC) at 13-7 while improving its overall record to 25-17. The Pioneers are now 22-23-1 and 12-8 in the NEC.

Junior Matt Watson (Howell, NJ / Howell) improved to NEC-best 8-1, including a perfect 6-0 during league play with a sparkling 2.25 ERA.

The Seahawks recorded 12 hits on the day, including 11 over the first five frames.

The Green & White took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Senior Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) doubled with one out to center field. Sophomore Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) followed with a double of his own, plating Drechsel.

Wagner extended the lead out to 2-0 in the top of the third inning with another one-out rally. Sophomore Jared Gruccio (Landisville, NJ / Buena Regional) picked up his second hit of the game with a double to right field. Junior Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) then lined the first pitch he saw through the left side, plating Gruccio.

Sacred Heart cut the deficit in half at 2-1 in the bottom of the third with a two-out rally. Mike Drowne reached on an infield single to the shortstop. Phil Tantillo then doubled to left field, plating Drowne who was running on the play. Watson escaped further damage by inducing Jeff Hanson, who entered the game batting a NEC-best .417, into a ground out to the second baseman.

The Seahawks manufactured another run in the top of the fourth inning. Drechsel led off with a single before stealing second. He was advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a Brian Martutartus (So., Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon) sacrifice fly.

In the top of the fifth, the Green & White pushed the lead out to 4-1 using three singles. Avella led off with an infield single. Following an out, sophomore Matt Logan (Wall, NJ / Wall) lined a single off Sacred Heart starter RHP Chris Barthel. Drechsel delivered the big knock with a single through the right side, scoring Avella.

The Pioneers threatened in a wild bottom of the fifth. Watson walked Steve Tedesco before striking out Mike Drowne. Watson then walked the next two batters to load the bases. With his back against the wall, Watson proceeded to strike out Sacred Heart's big bats Tyler Santos and Jeff Heppner, quelling the rally.

Watson escaped further trouble in the bottom of the sixth thanks to some outstanding defense. With Hunter Phillips on second, sophomore Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) snared Steve Tedesco's line drive with a sprawling dive before getting the speedy outfielder at first by a couple of steps.

Watson exited after 6.0 innings, striking out a career-best tying six while yielding just one run on four hits and seven walks. The crafty right-hander also struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth.

Wagner added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Junior Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) was hit by a pitch. After being moved over to second on a successful sacrifice, Conforti stole third on a  failed pick-off attempt and scored on Gruccio's third hit of the game, a single to right field,extending the lead out to 5-1.

Sacred Heart scored twice in the bottom of the ninth on Hanson's 10th home run of the year but could not get any closer, falling 5-3.

Drechsel was 3-3 with two runs while Gruccio went 3-5 to lead the way for the Wagner offense.

Hanson and Tantillo each recorded two hits, pacing the Pioneers. Sacred Heart starter RHP Chris Barthel fell to 1-6, yielding four runs on 11 hits and one walk while striking out nine.

The teams resume their series tomorrow with a 1:00 pm doubleheader.