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Staten Island, NY - Sophomore Jason Gordon (Baltimore, MD / Archbishop Curley) crushed his first career home run and drove in four to lead Wagner to a 5-2 come-from-behind victory over Sacred Heart in the first game of today's doubleheader at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

With the win, the Seahawks improve to 4-13 and 1-1 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Pioneers fall to 4-9 and 1-1 in the league.

Sacred Heart struck first with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning when Jayson Sullivan plated Victor Sorrento with a RBI single to right field.

After allowing a two-out walk in the bottom of the first inning Pioneer LHP Nick Leiningen retired the next 10 in a row before running into trouble in the top of the fifth inning.

Junior Shaun Flynn (Tabernacle, NJ / Seneca / Burlington County College) led off with a walk, beore moving to second on a balk. Later in the frame, Gordon plated Flynn with a two-out single to right center on the first pitch he saw from Leiningen. The Seahawks would then take their first lead of the game when junior Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth CC) drew a bases loaded walk, forcing in Gordon.

After freshman LHP Paul Mammino (Hillsborough, NJ / Hillsborough) breezed through the bottom part of the frame, Gordon delivered the knockout punch with another big two-out hit. The Maryland native launched a three-run home run off a 1-0 Leiningen offering, plating Flynn and Gray while extending the lead out to 5-1.

SHU would again threaten in the bottom of the sixth inning, loading up the bases while forcing Mammino from the game. Sophomore RHP Anthony Battaglia (Staten Island, NY / St. Joseph By The Sea) entered and promptly struck out Jesus Medina, before inducing an inning-ending double play.

Sacred Heart would make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning as John Murphy singled home Sullivan, before Dan Perez followed with a single to load up the bases and bring the go-ahead run to the plate. However, Battaglia would not wilt under the pressure, inducing a game-ending ground out as Wagner claimed the 5-2 victory.

Gordon was the lone member of the Seahawks to record multiple-hits, finishing up 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs. Murphy and Sullivan each notched two hits to lead the way for the Pioneers.

Mammino improved to 2-0 on the year, striking out three while yielding a single unearned run on just two hits over 5.0 innings. Battaglia struck out two over 2.0 innings in notching his first save of the season.

Leiningen (2-2) was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs on six hits with three strikeouts over 6.0 innings.

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Photography by Dave Saffran