BOX SCORE
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Staten Island, NY - Seton Hall scored five runs in the top of the third inning while sending 10 batters to the plate en route to an 8-4 victory over Wagner in non conference action at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. Standing out for the Green & White was junior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic), who recorded a career-best four hits on the day.

In victory, the Pirates improve to 15-15 while the Seahawks fall to 10-20.

Wagner recorded 10 hits on the day, led by Higgins, who went 4-for-5 with a double, run and a RBI. Also notching multiple hits was senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy), who was 2-for-5 with a stolen base and a run. Sean Gusrang (3-for-5, 2 runs) and Giuseppe Papaccio (3-for-4) each highlighted a 12-hit Seton Hall attack..

After the teams traded zeros for the first two frames, the Pirates dented the scoreboard with five runs in the top of the third inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Scott Kalamar scored the game's first run on a wild pitch. A.J. Rusbarsky then plated Will Walsh and Zach Granite with a two-run single to right center. Dale Anderson and Giuseppe Papaccio were then each hit by pitches, again loading up the bases with two outs. Mike Genovese picked up his teammates with a two-run single to center field, scoring Rusbarsky and Anderson while staking the visitors to a 5-0 lead.

Seton Hall added to its lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning when Gusrang scored on a wild pitch.

The Seahawks finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) got things started with a one-out single down the left field line. Higgins followed up with this beautiful bunt single down the third base line. Sophomore Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) then put the Green & White on the scoreboard with his first hit of the year, crushing this double to left center, plating Lucas while advancing Higgins to third. Wagner added one more run in the frame when Higgins scored on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 6-2.

The Seahawks trimmed two more runs off the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) and Boyd stole second-and-third with two outs. Higgins then hit this chopper over the pitcher's head, reaching on an infield single while plating McDonnell before Boyd scored on an errant throw by the shortstop, trimming the lead to 6-4.

The Pirates got each those runs back in the top of the ninth, using four singles and a sacrifice fly in extending its lead out to 8-4.

The Green & White would threaten in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with no outs only to come away empty-handed.

Freshman RHP Matt Gavin (St. James, NY / Smithtown East) fell to 0-2 on the year, allowing three runs on three walks over 2.1 inning. Despite not figuring in the decision, senior LHP Jack Rice (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) was solid in relief, striking out four while allowing just one unearned run over 2.1 innings.

LHP Greg Terhune (3-3) earned the win, striking out four while yielding two runs on six hits and a walk. Frank Morris notched his first save of the year with two strikeouts over 2.1 scoreless frames.

Wagner returns to action on Friday, April 15 at 3:00 pm when the Seahawks head to Monmouth for a crucial Northeast Conference (NEC) series.