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Staten Island, NY - Sacred Heart (4-8) posted an 8-1 victory over Wagner (3-13) in the Northeast Conference (NEC) opener for both teams at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

Pioneer RHP Troy Scribner struck out four while yielding just one run on five hits over 7.0 innings in improving to 1-1 on the year. Seahawk junior RHP Ryan Casey (Paramus, NJ / St. Joseph Regional) was the tough-luck losing pitcher, allowing six runs, three earned, on seven hits and a pair of walks over 6.0 innings in falling to 0-3. Casey also fanned a career-high six in defeat.

John Murphy took advantage of a heavy wind blowing out to right with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to open the scoring.

SHU added to the lead in the bottom of the second as Dave Boisture plated Brian Lamboy with a single up the middle.

Wagner responded with a run of its own in the top of the third. Junior Ian Miller (Downingtown, PA / Bishop Shanahan) reached via a beautiful bunt single down the third base line, before stealing his NEC-leading 16th base. Classmate Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth Community College (IA)) then smoked a double over to left field that easily scored Miller while trimming the deficit to 3-1. Sophomore Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) followed with a walk, but Scribner evaded further trouble by inducing an inning-ending fly out.

The Pioneers answered with an unearned run in the bottom part of the frame, before adding two more runs fueled by a Seahawk error in the sixth to extend the lead out to 6-1.

After allowing a third-inning run, Scriber settled down and retired 13 of the final 15 batters he faced before exiting after the seventh inning.

Wagner would threaten in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with one out on Smith's second double of the game, a Dini HBP and a Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) single to center. Unfortunately, reliever Dan Wertz struck out the final two batters to quell the threat.

Sacred Heart added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the frame en route to posting the aforementioned 8-1 victory.

Smith went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a RBI while Miller was 2-for-5 with a run and a stolen base to lead the way for the Seahawks. Boisture was the lone Pioneer with multiple-hits, finishing up 2-for-4 with two runs while Billy McDonough, Murphy and Dan Perez all added two RBI.

Both teams recorded nine hits and left 10 players on the bases.

The teams continue their series tomorrow with a 1:00 pm doubleheader as Sacred Heart will again play as the home team. The teams will then conclude their series on Sunday with a game at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT.

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Photography by Dave Saffran