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

Smithfield, RI - Ryan Van Spronsen (Sr., Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) Northeast Conference (NEC) leading eighth win of the year fueled Wagner's 3-2 victory over Bryant in the first of four games between the teams at Conaty Field while keeping the Seahawks playoff aspirations alive.

Wagner jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, before holding off a late-charging Bulldog squad by a 3-2 count.

Van Spronsen's complete game effort also dealt Bryant its first loss in eight series openers during conference play, as the Seahawks improve to 22-30 and 15-14 during NEC play. In defeat, the Bulldogs fall to 30-21 and 21-8 in the NEC.

On the year, the Canadian native improves to 8-1 with seven complete games, 65 strikeouts and a 2.07 ERA over a school-record 100.0 innings of work. Additionally, Van Spronsen moves into third place on the school's all-time innings pitched list (262.2), while his 14th victory matches current Boston Red Sox reliever Andrew Bailey for the eighth-most wins in school history.

Wagner, which notched only six hits, was led by the bottom third of the line-up as the trio of Nick Alfano (Jr., Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep), Hayden Hunter (Sr., Santa Monica, CA / Notre Dame) and Chris Smith (So., Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth (IA) CC) went a combined 5-for-10 with two walks, two runs and two RBI

The Seahawks jumped in front 2-0 in the top of the second inning with a pair of two-out runs. Senior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) opened the frame by walking, before moving to second on Bill Murphy's (Sr., Cranford, NJ / Roselle Catholic / Rutgers) sacrifice bunt. Following a strike out, Hunter picked up Higgins with a RBI single to left field, while advancing to second on the throw home. Smith then dropped a bunt single down to third base as Hunter scored all the way from second on an errant throw to first.

Bryant threatened in the bottom of the frame with a two-out rally as Dave Zanotta reached via an error, before Joe Carcone singled. However, Van Spronsen induced an inning-ending fly out to keep the score at 2-0.

The Green & White added another two-out, unearned run in the top of the third inning. Alfano started the rally with a bloop single, before Hunter reached via a fielding error. Smith then smoked this double past the third baseman, chasing home Alfano to extend the lead to 3-0.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bulldogs dented the scoreboard with a single run on three hits. Kevin Brown plated Carl Anderson with a RBI double down the right field line to trim the deficit to 3-1, while moving Connor Carignan to third. However, Van Spronsen evaded further trouble with this strikeout of Jamie Skagerlind.

BU added another run in the bottom of the eighth inning on David Soltis' RBI infield single, before Van Spronsen struck out pinch hitter Jonathon Scott for the final out of the frame.

The Bulldogs again threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning as Carl Anderson notched a one-out single for his third hit of the game, only to be erased on Van Spronsen's NEC-leading eighth pick-off.  The Canadian native then capped his complete game effort with with this strikeout of Carignan, his eighth of the game.

Smith led the way on offense, going 2-for-3 with a double, walk, RBI and run, while Hunter also was 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI and run.

Peter Kelich (8-3), who had entered the game unbeaten during league play at 6-0, allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits and three walks over 8.0 innings.

Anderson was 3-for-4 with a run to pace an eight-hit Bryant attack.

NOTES: Central Connecticut State and Fairleigh Dickinson each clinched playoff berths today … In the race for the fourth and final spot, Wagner would need to win the remaining three games while having Monmouth defeat Sacred Heart tomorrow in the teams' series finale … All five runs were scored with five runs … Wagner improves to 6-2 in one-run games, while Bryant falls to 8-2 in those situations … Van Spronsen is also now 4-0 on the year in one-run games ... The victory was also the Seahawks' first in Smithfield, RI, after being swept in all four games in 2010 ... All nine of the teams' meetings have also now been decided by four runs or less, including five by just one run.