BOX SCORE

Teaneck, NJ - Sophomore RHP Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) fired 7.0 innings of one-run ball while juniors Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) and Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) each hit solo home runs in leading Wagner to a 3-1 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in the first of four games at FDU Field. The teams will continue their series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm.

With the victory, the Seahawks improve to 10-12 and 6-3 in the NEC while the Knights fall to 4-18 and 3-6 in the league.

Wagner struck first with a run in the top of the second inning. Junior Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) staked the Seahawks to a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI single, plating junior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) from second.

FDU immediately responded in its half of the second. Ryan Kresky got the rally started with a one-out single. After stealing second, he scored on Joe Martino's line-drive single through the right side, tying the game up at 1-1. Scott Morrison then reached via an error on what appeared to be an inning-ending double play.The Knights, however, were unable to take advantage as Van Spronsen induced a lazy fly to left and a routine grounder, quelling the threat.

Van Spronsen was dominant from that point forward, facing just two over the minimum in his final 5.0 innings of work.

Both offenses were dormant over the next three innings before Wagner plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. McDonnell put the Seahawks in front for good when he crushed the first pitch he saw from Michael Strachman over the fence in right center. Two outs later, Boyd hit his first home run of the year with a shot over the centerfield fence.

Down but not out, FDU threatened in the bottom part of the frame. Matt Holsman led off with a single before Brian Dillon followed with a base hit of his own. With runners on first-and-second and no outs, Van Spronsen induced a double-play grounder before freezing Ryan Krseky with a curve ball for the inning-ending strikeout. The Canadian pitcher finished his day with a 1-2-3 seventh inning before the Green & White went to the bullpen.

Junior Ian Karlsson (Brooklyn, NY / Xaverian) entered in the bottom of the eighth inning and promptly retired all six hitters he faced for his third save of the season.

Van Spronsen improved to 2-3 on the year, striking out four while not walking a batter and allowing one run on five hits over 7.0 innings. He threw just 98 pitches, 66 strikes, while recording four perfect frames.

McDonnell led a nine-hit attack for Wagner, going 2-for-2 with his first home run of the year while drawing two walks. Lucas also notched two hits, going 2-for-3 with a RBI.

Martino paced the FDU effort, going 2-for-3 with a RBI. Strachman (1-4) took the loss, striking out three while yielding three runs on eight hits over 7.0 innings.

NOTES: Today's game took just 2:05 … Wagner has now won five-straight against FDU and 14-of-16 dating back to 2006 … During that time the Seahawks are 9-0 against the Knights in games decided by three runs or less … Van Spronsen and Karlsson recorded six 1-2-3 innings while holding FDU to a .156 average (5-32) … Boyd and McDonnell's home runs give the Seahawks 15 for the year as six different student-athletes have gone yard … McDonnell's multi-hit game is his team-leading eighth of the year ... Senior Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) is the team-leader with eight ... He has now reached base safely in 21 of Wagner's 22 games after doubling in the top of the eighth inning … The Seahawks are 8-3 in games decided by three runs or less, including 5-1 during NEC-play ... Karlsson needed just 18 pitches in his 2.0 innings of work ... He has not yielded a run over his last six games while recording three saves, eight strikeouts and allowing just four base-runners (3 hits, 1 walk) over 7.0 innings ... All three saves have come during NEC-play as he has allowed just one walk over 3.2 hitless frames ... The No. 5 - No. 9 hitters had another solid game, going 5-for-17 (.294) after going 8-for-19 (.421) against St. John's ... The Green & White pitching unit has allowed just one run over the last 16.0 innings.