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Staten Island, NY - Senior RHP Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) threw his second-straight complete game while collecting his second collegiate shutout in leading Wagner to a 1-0 victory over Quinnipiac in the Northeast Conference (NEC) opener for both teams. The win is also the Seahawks' eighth straight in conference openers and the 10th in the last 11 years as the Green & White improve to 4-11 with the Bobcats falling to 1-9.

Despite a combined 18 hits, the game turned out to a low-scoring affair due to a pair of outstanding pitching efforts from Van Spronsen and QU starter RHP Derek Lamacchia.

Quinnipiac had the first major scoring opportunity in the top of the second inning when Zak Palmer reached on a two-base throwing error by senior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen) / Seton Hall). However, Brown would atone for the error on the very next play when he combined with Van Spronsen to pick Palmer off at second base. Van Spronsen has now picked off one person in his one of his starts en route to a NEC-leading four.

Wagner had its first major opportunity to dent the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Freshman Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) led off with a walk before moving to second on a Bill Murphy (GS, Cranford, NJ / Roselle Catholic / Rutgers) sacrifice bunt, but would be erased on a fielder's choice on the next play. Sophomore Ian Miller (Downington, PA / Bishop Shanahan) followed with a two-out double, advancing junior Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) to third. The pair would be stranded when Lamacchia induced an inning-ending fly out.

In the bottom of the fourth, Brown led off with a single, but was quickly erased on a double-play grounder.The Bobcats then threatened with a two-out triple in the top of the fifth inning, only to have Van Spronsen induce an inning-ending grounder.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth, QU appeared poised to strike first. Vincent Guglietti led off the sixth with a walk, before Zak Palmer moved him over to second on a perfectly executed hit-and-run. Gabe Guerino then advanced the pair to second-and-third with a perfect sacrifice bunt. On the ensuing play, Jesse Ullrich hit a grounder that appeared to bring in Guglietti. However, the ball struck the runner advancing to third from second, resulting in Guglietti returning to third, Palmer being called out and Ullrich reaching first on a single. Van Spronsen then recorded the third out of the frame, inducing an inning-ending grounder to third.

In the bottom part of the frame, Alfano singled before moving to second on a Miller sacrifice. Junior Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth CC) advanced Alfano to third with a single to right field. Brown then hit a scorching line drive to Guerino, as the first baseman made the catch before doubling up Smith at the bag while stranding Alfano just 90 feet from home.

Van Spronson, who got stronger as the game wore on, then notched his first 1-2-3 frame in the top of the seventh, while putting the Seahawks in position to end the scoring drought in the bottom part of the inning.

Senior Hayden Hunter (Santa Monica, CA / Notre Dame) opened the bottom of the inning with his second hit of the game, singling to right field. After Hunter advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, Lamacchia induced the second out of the inning. Dini kept the inning alive with an infield single, pushing Hunter to third. Murphy followed with a bloop single, extending his hitting streak to seven games, but more importantly scoring Hunter with what would prove to be the game's only run.

In the top of the eighth inning, Quinnipiac was able to threaten with a pair of two-out hits only to have Van Spronsen strike out Jesse Ullrich via the backwards K for the third out.

In the top of the ninth, Nic Civale led off with his second hit of the game before advancing to third base, but would get no closer as Van Spronsen finished off his masterpiece by getting Kyle Nisson to fly out for the final out of the game.

On the afternoon, Van Spronsen (3-0) struck out five while scattering 10 hits and three walks over his second-straight complete game. The Canadian native also kept the Bobcats off the scoreboard thanks to limiting QU to a .125 average (1-8) with runners in scoring position, with the lone hit coming on Ullrich's ground ball that hit Palmer, who was attempting to advance to third.

Lamacchia (0-2) was the tough-luck losing pitcher, striking out six while allowing just one run on eight hits over a complete-game 8.0-inning performance.

Quinnipiac, which outhit the Green & White 10-8, were led by Scott Donaghue (3-for-4, 3B) while Civale, Palmer and Ullrich added two hits apiece.

Hunter went 2-for-3 with a run and was the lone member of the Seahawks to record multiple hits.

The teams will resume their series tomorrow with a 1:00 pm doubleheader.

NOTES:
* With the win, Wagner improves to 14-3 against Quinnipiac over the last four years.

* The Seahawks have also won nine-straight over the Bobcats at home as QU is now 0-9, all-time, at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

* Seven of those nine victories have come by three runs or less, including six by two runs or less.

* In Wagner's four wins, the Seahawks have scored 22 runs while posting a 2.50 ERA.

* In their 11 losses, the Green & White have notched just 22 runs while recording an 8.90 ERA.

* Van Spronsen has not allowed an earned run over 19.2 career innings against Quinnipiac.

* On the year, Van Spronsen leads Wagner in wins (3), innings (31.0), strikeouts (18), ERA (1.45) and WHIP (1.06).

* Brown returned after missing the previous six games due to injury.

* Murphy leads the team in batting (.345), but does not the required 2.0 at-bats/game to qualify for the NEC rankings.

* Wagner's last 1-0 win came on March 27, 2011 against Central Connecticut State in an extra-inning affair that went 9.0 innings. It is also the Seahawks' first 1-0 victory in a game scheduled to go nine innings since at least the 1999 season.