BOX SCORE
Staten Island, NY - Sophomore
Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) yielded just one unearned run while striking out five over 8.0 solid innings while leading Wagner (4-9) to a 6-1 victory over Long Island (2-13) in the Northeast Conference (NEC) opener for both teams at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.
The Blackbirds plated their only run in the top of the first. Gerard Tingos reached on a two-base error and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on Drew Walsh's RBI groundout.
From that point on, Van Spronson (1-2) was outstanding, yielding just four hits while not allowing a runner past second base over his next 7.0 innings of work. For the game, he allowed just one walk while picking off a runner at first base and retiring the lead-off batter in six of his eight frames, including the last five in a row.
After the first inning LIU tally, Wagner responded with five runs on three hits and three walks while batting around in the bottom of the first. Senior
Damian Csakai (Freehold Township, NJ / Freehold Township), junior
Jared Gruccio (Landisville, NJ / Buena Regional) and classmate
Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) all walked, loading up the bases with no outs. Senior
Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) and junior
Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) followed with RBI-singles, making it 2-0. With the bases still loaded and no outs, sophomore
Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) singled through the right side, plating Lucas and Avella while extending the lead out to 4-0 and chasing Blackbird starter Chris Franzese. Wagner concluded the scoring when McDonnell scored on a double play groundout.
The Green & White added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Csakai led off with a walk and stole second before scoring on a Gruccio single up the middle.
Seven different Seahawks hit safely while Csakai, Gruccio, Lucas and Avella combined to draw seven of the eight Wagner walks. Csakai also broke the Wagner career record for runs scored with his two tallies and now has 136, breaking Mike Cerminaro's nine-year record of 134. Csakai also moved into sixth place on the all-time hits list with 189.
Sam Sciamarelli notched two of the four Blackbird hits, pacing the LIU offense. Franzese (0-1) took the loss in his first collegiate start, allowing five runs on three hits and three walks while not retiring a batter. Senior LHP and Staten Island native Kenny Cedel was impressive in relief, limiting the Seahawks to one run on two hits over 7.0 innings.
The victory was also the 200th of
Joe Litterio's career.
The teams conclude their series with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 12:00 pm.
