Box Score / Box Score (PDF) / Connor Smith Post-Game Interview

Staten Island, NY - Sophomore RHP Connor Smith (West Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) retired 13-straight batters at one point while striking out six over 7.0 scoreless innings - both of which are career-highs - en route to leading Wagner to a 6-0 victory over Lafayette in the Seahawks' home opener at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

Thanks to Smith's first collegiate victory, the Green & White snap a five-game losing streak while improving to 3-12 on the year as the Leopards fall to 2-14.

After allowing a leadoff triple to start the game, Smith (1-2) retired the next 13 batters in a row, including posting three-straight 1-2-3 frames, before Scott Kelleher singled with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Smith would cap his outstanding 97-pitch outing by striking out the side in the top of the seventh inning and allowed just three hits and no walks.

Wagner grabbed control of the game in the third inning, scoring four runs on five hits and one big error while sending 10 batters to the plate.

Sophomore Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ / Somerville) got things started with a single up the middle, before moving to second on a Vaughn Champion (Fr., Galloway, NJ / Absegami) sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Dan Wasilick (Toms River, NJ / Toms River East) followed with a single to right field while advanced Mazurkiewicz to third. Junior Ian Miller (Downingtown, PA / Bishop Shahahan) then opened the scoring with a beautiful bunt single that plated Mazurkiewicz.

Wasilick then moved to third on a fly out, before Miller stole second on a failed pick-off. The pair would come around to score on a fielding error by the second baseman while extending the lead to 3-0. The Seahawks would proceed to load the bases up, before junior Shuan Flynn (Tabernacle, NJ / Seneca / Burlington County College) capped the scoring with an infield single that brought around sophomore Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township).

Wagner added to the lead with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Champion reached via an error to lead off the frame, before moving to second on a Chris Smith (Jr., Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth Community College (IA)) bunt single with two outs. Champion then came around to score when Dini blasted a single up the middle. Smith would cap the scoring when he stole third base on a failed pick-off, before crossing the plate on the subsequent throw to third.

Freshman LHP Paul Mammino (Hillsborough, NJ / Hillsborough) pitched the eighth and sophomore RHP Anthony Battaglia (Staten Island, NY / St. Joseph By The Sea) the ninth to close out the Seahawks' first nine-inning shutout since a 1-0 victory over Quinnipiac on March 16, 2012.

Seven different Wagner players hit safely with eight reaching safely as the Seahawks put together a total team effort while improving to a perfect 6-0, all-time, in home openers at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

Andrew Santomauro and Thomas Dunleavy each notched two hits to a lead a five-hit Lafayette attack while Toby Schwartz (0-4) was the tough-luck losing pitcher, allowing four runs, one earned, over 3.0 innings.

Wagner opens up Northeast Conference (NEC) play at two-time defending champion Sacred Heart on Friday, March 22 at 3:00 pm.

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department and @WagBaseball for news and updates on the baseball program.

Photography by Dave Saffran