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Bridgeport, CT - Sacred Heart scored five runs in bottom of the sixth inning while breaking open what was a close game en route to an 8-2 victory over Wagner in the first of two games Harbor Yard. The Pioneers improve to 29-21 and 21-9 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) with the win while the Seahawks fall to 18-31 and 12-18 in the league.

Senior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) and classmate Jack Rice (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) each went 2-for-3 with a double while junior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) was 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases as the threesome recorded six of the eight Wagner hits.

The Seahawks took their first lead of the series with a two-out rally in the top of the second inning. Rice laced this double down the left field line before coming around to score on an Ian Vazquez (Fr., Guaynabo, Puerto Rico / Perkiomen (PA)) single to left field.

Sacred Heart responded with a pair of runs in the bottom part of the frame. John Murphy led off with a triple before scoring on a Hunter Phillips single to left center. Phillips would come around to score later in the frame on a Dave Boisture RBI single.

The Green & White immediately tied the game up at 2-2 in the top of the third inning with another two-out rally. Brown laced this single to left field before scoring on this McDonnell RBI double.

The Pioneers reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning when JJ Edwards delivered a bases-loaded single to Brown at second, plating Dave Boisture.

Sacred Heart put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring five runs while sending 10 batters to the plate in building up an insurmountable 8-2 lead.

Senior RHP Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) fell to 4-6 with the loss, striking out five while allowing seven runs on 11 hits over 5.1 innings. Click HERE to see all five strikeouts.

All nine Pioneer regulars hit safely, led by JJ Edwards, who went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI.

Freshman LHP Nick Leiningen (6-3) picked up the win, striking out a career-best seven over 7.0 innings while allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk.

The game was delayed for six minutes in the bottom of the fourth inning when the sprinkler system accidently was activated.