BOX SCORE

Smithfield, RI - Bryant took the first game of today's doubleheader by a 6-5 score, plating the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a Wagner miscue at the Bryant Baseball Complex. The Bulldogs improved to 21-19 and 13-5 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Seahawks fall to 17-21 and 11-7 in the NEC.

Junior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) homered for the second-straight game, going 2-for-3 with a walks and two runs. McDonnell also extended his hitting streak to seven games and is 12-for-25 (.480) with two home runs, three doubles and seven RBI during that time while raising his average to .324. Sophomore Hayden Hunter (Santa Monica, CA / Notre Dame) also blasted his first career home run, highlighting the Seahawk offense.

Wagner threatened in the top of the first as senior Damian Csakai (Freehold Township, NJ / Freehold Township) was hit on the first pitch of the game while extending his school-record total out to 39. Sophomore Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) then drew a five-pitch walk after Csakai picked up his NEC-leading 29th stolen base on the season. However the Green & White would come up short, stranding runners at second-and-third.

Bryant struck first for the second game in a row. Kevin Brown doubled to the right-center gap before moving over to third on a sacrifice bunt. After Jeff Vigurs drew a five-pitch walk, Brown scored on a grounder to third when he beat the throw home. The Bulldogs scored the game's second run when Vigurs stole third before coming home on an errant throw.

In the bottom of the second inning, Bryant appeared poised to break the game open, loading up the bases with no outs on two singles and a hit batsman. Senior RHP Matt Watson (Howell, NJ / Howell) rose to the occasion, striking out Brown before inducing an inning-ending double play.

Bolstered by the strong pitching performance, the Seahawk bats awoke in the top of the third inning. Higgins and Boyd each singled with one out before senior Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) blooped a single to right field, plating Higgins while advancing Boyd to second base. Boyd moved over to third base on a failed pick-off attempt before junior Matt Logan (Wall, NJ / Wall) hit a grounder deep into the hole at second base. Dylan Stone got the first out at second but Logan beat the relay throw at first base, allowing Boyd to tie the game up at 2-2. McDonnell then crushed the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall for a two-run home run, his second in as many game, giving Wagner its first lead of the series at 4-2.

The Bulldogs tied the game up with two-out runs in each of the fourth and fifth frames.

The Seahawks reclaimed the lead at 5-4 in the top of the seventh on Hunter's lead-off blast to left field. Bryant responded with a solo shot from Nick Campbell, leading off the bottom part of the seventh. Stone then walked before moving over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Junior RHP Ian Karlsson (Brooklyn, NY / Xaverian) then entered and following an intentional walk, promptly struck out the next two batters to send the game into extra innings.

Following a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, the Bulldogs claimed the walk-off win on a two-out bases-loaded error.

Karlsson (0-1) was the tough-luck loser, striking out two while yielding just one unearned run over 1.1 innings. Watson went 6.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits while striking out two. The reigning NEC Pitcher of the Year moved into sixth place on the all-time Seahawks' innings list at 223.1, moving past current Oakland Athletics pitcher Andrew Bailey.

Bryant RHP Eric Polvani (4-5) earned the complete-game win, striking out eight while allowing five runs on six hits and three walks.

Campbell led an 11-hit attack, going 3-for4 with a home run, two runs and two RBI while Jamie Skagerlind was a perfect 3-for-3.