BOX SCORE

Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville broke open a close game with 14 runs in its last two trips to the plate en route to a 20-4 victory over Wagner in the first of three games between the teams at Sessions Stadium. In defeat, the Seahawks fall to 1-4 while the Dolphins improve to 7-3.

The Wagner offense managed just one baserunner over the first three innings; a senior Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) hit by pitch leading off the second inning. However, he was erased on a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play on the ensuing play as Jacksonville starter LHP Tony Mollica would go on to face the minimum over the first 3.1 frames.

In the top of the fourth inning, senior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) recorded the Seahawks' first hit of the game with a line-drive double to left field with one out before being stranded in scoring position.

The Dolphins scored the game's first run with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning. Taylor Ratliff drew a walk before scoring on Jonathan Murphy's run-scoring triple down the left field line.

Jacksonville extended the lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, but the damage could have been much worse had it not been for some solid defensive play. With nobody out and runners at second-and-third, freshman Ian Vazquez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico / Perkiomen (PA)) threw out Jimmy Howick out at home for the first out of the frame on a fielder's choice. Freshman LHP Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ / St. John Vianney) then coaxed an inning-ending double play, leaving the deficit at three runs.

The Dolphins added three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning while pushing the lead out to 6-0 after Wagner was forced to the bullpen.

The Seahawks finally broke through in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore Hayden Hunter (Santa Monica, CA / Notre Dame) led off with a walk before being erased on a fielder's choice grounder. Freshman Ian Miller (Downington, PA / Bishop Shanahan) and McDonnell followed with singles before senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) chased home Vazquez for Wagner's first run. Conforti then walked, loading up the bases while forcing Molica from the game. Pinch-hitter senior Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) greeted reliever Adam Maxon with a bases-loaded walk that brought around Miller, cutting the deficit to 6-2.

The Seahawks sliced the deficit to 6-4 in the top of the seventh inning. Senior Jack Rice (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) and Hunter singled led off the frame with singles. After moving over to second-and-third on a Vazquez sacrifice bunt, McDonnell plated the pair with a two-out line-drive single to center field.

Jacksonville answered with eight runs in the bottom of the seventh and six in the bottom of the eighth inning, pushing its lead out to 20-4 while quelling any chance of a Green & White comeback.

McDonnell went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI to pace Wagner, which recorded eight hits. Rice was the only other Seahawk with multiple-hits while Lucas went 1-for-1 with a RBI and a walk, rounding out the top performers on offense.

Morris (0-2) assumed the loss, yielding three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one over 4.0 innings of work.

Howick led an 18-hit attack for Jacksonville, which had 11 batters hit safely, going 3-for-5 with six RBI while falling just a home run short of the cycle.

Mollica (2-0) earned the win, striking out three while allowing two runs on three hits and a pair of walks over 5.2 innings of work.

The teams amended their weekend schedule due to the threat of Sunday rain and will conclude their series tomorrow with a doubleheader, starting at 1:00 pm.