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Piscataway, NJ - Fueled by a six-run first inning, head coach Joe Litterio picked up his first career victory over Rutgers as Wagner posted an impressive 11-5 win over the Scarlet Knights and legendary coach and Litterio's former mentor Fred Hill at Bainton Field. The Seahawks, which have now won four-straight games against the BIG EAST dating back to 2009, notched season-highs in runs (11) and hits (16) while improving to 6-14 on the year as Rutgers falls to 8-14.

For Litterio, the 12th-year Wagner mentor, it was his first-career win over his alma mater after losing in 10 previous outings against the Scarlet Knights. During that time, the Seahawks were outscored 96-20 and had never scored more than five runs against the Garden State school before today. In victory, the Green & White also improve to 2-17-2, all-time against Rutgers.

Ten different Wagner players hit safley, led by senior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms), who went 3-for-5 with four runs, two doubles, a stolen base and a walk. Also recording multiple-hits were Jon Lucas (Sr., Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown), Jack Rice (Sr., Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata), Eddie Brown (Jr., Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) and Tommy Higgins (Jr., Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic).

The Seahawks jumped in front with six runs while sending 11 batters to the plate in the first inning and never looked back.

With one out, senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) and McDonnell each singled before Lucas loaded the bases up with a full-count walk. Higgins made it 1-0 with a run-scoring single to left field that plated Boyd. Senior Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) extended the lead to 2-0 with a RBI ground out, scoring McDonnell.

Rice then smacked a single to left field, bringing home Lucas while advancing Higgins to third base. Sophomore Gaby Ramirez (San Juan, Puerto Rico / Perkiomen (PA)) followed with a single to left center, plating Higgins while extending the lead to 4-0 and knocking Rutgers starter RHP Willie Beard out of the game.

Relief pitcher Sean Campbell fared no better, walking freshman Ian Miller (Downington, PA / Bishop Shanahan) on four pitches while again loading up the bases. Then facing a 3-2 count, Brown smoked a two-run single to left field, scoring Rice and Ramirez while capping the six-run frame.

Rutgers would continue to fight, drawing to within 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning and had runners at second-and-third with two outs. However, sophomore RHP Christian Rautenstrauch (Charlotte, NC / Providence Day) capped his outstanding 4.0 inning performance with a punch out of Russ Hopkins to end the inning.

Wagner added to the lead with a run in the top of the eighth inning. McDonnell led off with a double to left field before moving to third on an error. The Nutmeg State native then came around on a Lucas single to left field.

The Seahawks added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning en route to the 11-5 victory.

Rautenstrauch improved to 1-1 with the victory, yielding just one run on two hits and a pair of walks while striking out three over 4.0 innings. He now has the last three Wagner victories over BIG EAST institutions, previously garnering wins at Seton Hall and vs. St. John's a year ago.

Beard (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on five hits and a walk over 0.2 innings.

NOTES: Since the 2008 season, the Seahawks are 6-4 against the BIG EAST: Seton Hall (2-1), St. John's (2-1), Villanova (1-1), Rutgers (1-2) ... The game was delayed for 17 minutes when Campbell, the second Scarlet Knights pitcher of the game, was hit in the head on a throw from the catcher during warm-ups in the top of the second inning ... After falling to the ground, he recovered to walk off the field to a loud applause and was taken to the hospital via an ambulance ... Coaching first base for Rutgers in today's game was Jim Agnello ... Agnello played for Litterio at Monmouth when the later was an assistant coach before serving on Litterio's coaching staffs from 2000-2004 and again in 2007 ... 11 of the 12 members of the Green & White that drew an official at-bat reached safely ... Wagner returns to action against a much improved Long Island club that bested St. John's by a 5-3 count yesterday ... The teams' four-game series will begin on Friday with a single nine-inning game at 3:00 pm in Brooklyn, NY at the LIU Field ... Wagner hit .400 (8-for-20) with runners in scoring position.