BOX SCORE

Easton, PA - Wagner's first four batters went 7-for-15 with seven runs and four RBI while setting the table for a decisive 8-3 victory over Lafayette in non-conference action at Kamine Stadium. With the win, the Green & White improves to 3-9 while the Leopards fall to 0-11.

Wagner's victory also bucks a trend that had seen the home team win the annual match-up in each of the previous five seasons.

Lafayette took the early 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. Justin Sheperd reached via a walk and advanced to third on a pair of passed balls before scoring on Brad Hopek's RBI groundout.

As they have done all year the Seahawks responded immediately, putting four runs on the board while batting around in the top of the third inning. Senior Damian Csakai (Freehold Township, NJ / Freehold Township) led off with a walk before junior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) singled through the left side. Classmate Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) battled back from a 0-2 hole to draw a walk and load the bases with no outs. Senior Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) came through with his second hit of the day, a two-run single to right field on a 0-2 offering. The Green & White added a pair of runs on a throwing error by the Lafayette pitcher, staking Wagner to a 4-1 lead.

After the Leopards got a run back with a Kevin Casey RBI double in the bottom of the third innings, the Seahawks erupted for three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Csakai was hit by a pitch, leading off the frame before McDonnell drew a full-count walk. The duo then executed a successful double steal of second-and-third and Lucas picked them up with a line-drive two-run single up the middle. Csakai's run was the 134th of his career, matching the Wagner career record held by 2001 graduate and former Chicago Cubs farmhand Mike Cerminaro. Lucas would come around to score on Joe Jamison's (Jr., West Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) RBI groundout, extending the lead out to 7-2.

The Seahawks added to the lead with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Junior Brian Martutartus (Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon), who made an exceptional diving play bottom part of the fifth, led off with a double and came around on Csakai's second hit of the game, a single up the middle.

Lafayette got one of the runs back in the bottom part of the inning on a Casey RBI single, cutting the deficit to 8-3.

Both offenses quieted from that point, combining for no runs and eight singles over the final 4.0 innings.

Csakai reached base in his first five plate appearances, going 2-for-3 and was hit twice while notching two runs and a RBI. Avella was 2-for-4 with his team-leading 22nd and 23rd RBI of the season. McDonnell also was 2-for-4 with two runs while Martutartus rounded out the multiple-hit performers, going 2-4 with a double and a run.

Freshman Rich Del Vecchio (North Caldwell, NJ / Seton Hall Prep) picked up his first collegiate win, hurling 2.0 effective innings, striking out one while allowing one unearned run on two walks and a hit.

Five other Green & White hurlers combined to limit Lafayette to just two runs over the final 7.0 innings. The defense also turned in a flawless performance, committing no errors for just the second time this year on the heels of a 16-error weekend over three games at Richmond.

Casey went 3-4 with two RBI, leading the way for the Leopards.

Jeremy Atkins (0-2) took the loss, striking out three while yielding four runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks over 2.0 innings.

Wagner begins Northeast Conference (NEC) play this weekend when the Seahawks host Long Island at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Friday, March 26 at 3:00 pm.