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Staten Island, NY - Wagner used a solid team effort in defeating Saint Joseph's 4-1 in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. Junior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) scored three runs while junior Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) fired 5.0 innings of five-strikeout, one-run ball in collecting the win on the mound.

In victory, the Seahawks improve to 15-26 with their fourth-straight win and the fifth victory in six games while the Hawks fall to 14-27.

Prior to the game the Beauvais-Hudson team out of the South Shore Little League was recognized as part of the Green & White's inaugural little league.

In the top of the first inning with a runner on first base and two outs junior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) made this outstanding catch in foul territory for the final out in the frame. The momentum would carry over as Wagner scored the game's first run in the bottom part of the frame.

Junior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) drew a one-out walk before moving to second on this Higgins single through the left side. Following a strikeout, reigning Akadema Northeast Conference (NEC) Player of the Week Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) followed with this run-scoring single through the right side, allowing Brown to score as the Seahawk second baseman beat the throw from Greg Kumpel in right field.

The Green & White added to the lead with a run in the bottom part of the second. Freshman Ian Miller (Downington, PA / Bishop Shanahan) drew a four-pitch walk with two outs. Following a pair of throws over to first base, senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) crushed this double to left center on the first pitch he saw from Saint Joseph's starter RHP Chad Simendinger. On the play, Miller was off and running allowing the speedy centerfielder to score easily while pushing the Wagner lead out to 2-0.

The Hawks got on the board in the top of the third inning Greg Kumpel crushed a solo home run, his second of the year, to deep left field with two outs while trimming the Seahawk lead to 2-1.

Saint Joseph's had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning but was denied when senior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) threw out Brett Tiagwad at the plate on a Kunkel single through the left side for the second out of the inning before junior RHP Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) capped his 5.0 inning outing with a strikeout of Kevin Taylor.

Wagner added to the lead with a run in the bottom part of the frame. Brown was plunked leading off the frame before moving to second on a Higgins sacrifice bunt. After moving to third base on a wild pitch, McDonnell plated Brown with this sacrifice fly, extending the Seahawk lead out to 3-1.

The Green & White pushed across another run in the bottom of the seventh inning in extending their advantage to 4-1. With one out, Brown smacked this double to left field before scoring on Higgins' second hit of the game. On the play, Brown stopped at third before the left fielder overran the ball, allowing the Seton Hall transfer to score.

Sophomore RHP Christian Rautenstrauch (Charlotte, NC / Providence Day) entered in the sixth inning and hurled 3.0 scoreless innings in bridging the gap to classmate RHP Dakota Dvorak (Pompano Beach, FL / North Broward Prep) in the ninth.

Dvorak ran into some trouble, loading the bases before inducing this ground out to Boyd for the final out of the game and his second save of the year.

Lucas was 2-for-3 with a RBI while Higgins also was 2-for-3.

Kumpel led the Hawks, which outhit the Seahawks 9-8, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run and two walks. Saint Joseph's had its chances to score but stranded 12 runners while going just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.

Van Spronsen (2-3) won his second-straight game allowing just one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out five. Dvorak struck out one in a scoreless ninth for his second save.