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Staten Island, NY - Junior Eddie Brown's (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted Wagner to an impressive 1-0 victory over Central Connecticut State in the first of two games at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. The Seahawks improve to 5-13 and 4-3 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Blue Devils fall to 6-8-1 and 4-3 in the league.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, senior Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) recorded his third hit of the afternoon on a chopper through the right side. After stealing second, junior Hayden Hunter (Santa Monica, CA / Notre Dame) drew his second-straight walk while setting the scene for Brown. The Seton Hall transfer crushed the second pitch he saw to centerfield, scoring Conforti from second base while putting an end to the first game of the afternoon. 

While the game featured only one run it was not without its share of drama.

In the top of the first inning, with runners on second-and-third and one out senior Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) struck out 2010 First Team All-NEC selection Mitch Wells before inducing an inning-ending fly out.

CCSU would continue to attack and put runners on base as the Blue Devils' leadoff batter reached safely in six of the first seven frames.

Wagner mounted its first real threat of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior Jack Rice (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) led off with a single before pinch runner Dave Pepe (Fr., Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Blue Devil starter RHP Nick Nuemann then struck out Ian Miller (Fr., Downington, PA / Bishop Shanahan) before Boyd drew a walk. Senior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) then crushed a single to left field. On the play, Pepe tried to score but was gunned out at the plate on a strong throw from Normand Gosselin, while keeping the game scoreless.

Lucas exited after 6.0 strong innings of work as the hard-throwing righty struck out six while scattering six hits and a pair of walks.

CCSU proceeded to load the bases with one out against yesterday's game-two winner senior LHP David Rees (Staten Island, NY / Xavier). The crafty relief specialist escaped the jam unscathed thanks to inducing an inning-ending double play grounder.

Moving on to the eighth inning, the Seahawks loaded the bases with one out but were unable to convert as sophomore Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) lined into a double play, ending the threat.

Rees worked around a base hit in the ninth inning before the Green & White finally came through on Brown's RBI single.

For the game, the Blue Devils stranded 11 runners and was just 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Rees (2-0) collected the win, striking out two over 3.0 scoreless innings of work on his 22nd birthday.

Conforti led a 10-hit attack, going 3-for-4 while senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.

Epps was 2-for-3 with a walk, pacing CCSU, which recorded nine hits.

Sophomore LHP Chris Renzoni (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing one run over 1.0 inning of work. Nuemann, like Lucas, earned the no-decision despite turning in an outstanding performance. The sophomore hurler struck out four while scattering eight hits and a walk over 7.0 inning.