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NEC Tournament Headquarters

Staten Island, NY - Wagner wrapped up its third-straight Northeast Conference (NEC) playoff berth with a 7-3 wire-to-wire victory over Quinnipiac in the second game of today's doubleheader at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. The Seahawks, who won the first game by a 4-3 count, improve to 24-29 and 16-15 in the NEC while the Bobcats fall to 14-38 and 13-18 in the league.

The Green & White scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning before adding one more in the bottom of third inning, taking a 2-0 lead. Wagner then plated two runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth inning while sending eight batters to the plate. After Quinnipiac rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth inning, the Seahawks plated three two-out runs on the strength of a walk and four-straight hits to provide the final 7-3 margin

Today's sweep coupled with Monmouth and CCSU's victory means that this year's tournament will feature the same four teams from last year. Sacred Heart (20-12) will be the top seed for the NEC Tournament, which will start on Thursday, May 27 at the TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ. CCSU (16-13 NEC), which defeated LIU today 2-1, can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win in one of its final three games or if Wagner loses tomorrow and Monmouth (14-15 NEC) loses one of its final three games. The Hawks can only overtake the Seahawks in the standings by winning out while having the Green & White lose tomorrow.

Wagner unleashed a 13-hit attack in the second game, led by junior Brian Martutartus (Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon), who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. He has now hit safely in eight straight games, including notching multiple hits in each of the last six while raising his average to a team-best .335.

Senior Damian Csakai (Freehold Township, NJ / Freehold Township) was perfect in the game, going 2-for-2 with two runs, a walk and a sacrifice while collecting his 40th stolen base of the year. Classmate Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) also rapped out two hits and two RBI while moving past former teammate Joey DiGeronimo into second place on the all-time hits list at 221. With one more RBI he will match Mike Cerminaro's single-season record of 56. Junior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) equaled Avella with two hits, rounding out the Seahawks with multiple hits.

Senior Andy Wells (Staten Island, NY / St. Peter's) graduated at Noon before returning to hurl 6.0 innings of three-run ball while striking out three and not walking a batter in improving to 3-2. Junior LHP David Rees (Staten Island, NY / Xavier) struck out two over a scoreless seventh to preserve the win. Rees has allowed just one hit while picking two saves over 4.0 innings of action in three games against the Bobcats this weekend.

Ben Farina went 2-for-3 while Joe Poletsky was 1-for-3 with a two-run double, pacing a seven-hit Quinnipiac attack. Anthony Cinelli (3-5) took the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits with two strikeouts over 3.2 innings.

Wagner which is now 13-4 at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on the year will conclude the regular season with a 12:00 pm affair with Quinnipiac. Prior to the game the 2000 NEC Championship squad will be recognized on the field.