Box Score / Box Score (PDF) / Ryan Van Spronsen Postgame Interview

Staten Island, NY - Senior RHP Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) tossed his second complete game shutout of the season, allowing just two hits in the process while leading Wagner to a 1-0 victory over Iona in the first game of a doubleheader at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

On the strength of his complete-game performance, Van Spronsen is now tied with Jackson State's Quintavious Drains for the national lead with six complete games and has gone the distance in four of his home starts. On the year, the Canadian native is 6-1 with a miniscule 1.73 ERA over 73.0 innings of work.

In victory, the Seahawks improve to 17-23 and have now won three-straight games for the first time this season, while the Gaels fall to 14-23.

Van Spronsen was on top of his game from the start, retiring the first nine batters he faced.

Wagner threatened in each of the first two frames on offense, stranding runners in scoring position each time, before finally breaking through in the bottom of the third with a two-out rally.

Senior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen) / Seton Hall) reached via a two-out single on a no-balls, two-strikes count. He then stole second on a failed Gael pickoff attempt.  Freshman Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) followed with a line-drive single to left center, plating the speedy Brown from second without a throw for what would prove to be the only run of the game.

Iona rallied in the top of the fourth inning as Joe Torres led off with a double to left center and Jimmy Guiliano walked. Van Spronsen buckled down and struck out Chris Burke, before inducing Michael Chiaravalloti into an inning-ending double play.

The Gaels would again make things interesting in the top of the fifth inning with a two-out rally. Matt Kriss reached via an error, before stealing second. As was the case in the previous frame Van Spronsen evaded trouble with an inning-ending strikeout.

The Seahawks looked as though they would add to the lead in the bottom part of the frame as sophomore Ian Miller (Downingtown, PA / Bishop Shanahan) reached via an error, before moving to second on a ground out. The Keystone State native then took off for third and 80 feet down the line before the pitcher made a last-ditch effort to get the speedy Miller at third base. However, he would be left stranded 90 feet from home.

After Iona again left a runner at second in the top of the sixth inning, the Gaels opened the seventh inning with a Chairavalloti double. Van Spronsen, however, would not give in to the Iona pressure, inducing a pop up and a fly out,  before striking out Matt Kriss to end the game.

Van Spronsen allowed just two doubles over 7.0 innings of work while striking out six and has now gone at least seven frames in each of his last eight starts.

Gael LHP Justin Wiley (0-2) was the tough-luck loser, yielding one run on five hits while striking out five over a complete game, 6.0-inning effort.

Senior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) led a five-hit Green & White attack, going 2-for-2 while Dini hit safely for the 25th time in last 27 games is now batting a team-best .319.