Box Score / Box Score (PDF)

Staten Island, NY - Central Connecticut defeated Wagner 13-1 in the first game of today's doubleheader at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

The Blue Devils broke a scoreless deadlock with three unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning, before tacking on 10 in the seventh inning to improve to 16-17 and 9-9 in the Northeast Conference (NEC). Meanwhile, the Seahawks fall to 14-21 and 7-8 in the league with the loss.

Junior LHP Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ / St. John Vianney) was outstanding on the mound in a losing effort. The hard-throwing lefty struck out five while yielding just three unearned runs on three hits over 5.0 solid frames in falling to 2-3 on the year.

Wagner had its chances on offense over the first four innings, stranding runners in scoring position in each frame while going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

During that time Morris was on point, facing just one batter over the minimum while scattering one hit.

After Morris retired the first two hitters in the top of the fifth inning, Anthony Turgeon drew a walk. Jeff Osak then reached via a fielding error, before Connor Fitzsimons plated Turgeon with a run-scoring single to right center. On the play, Fitzsimons took second on a throwing error while Osak advanced to third. Dylan DelaCruz then scored both Osak and Fitzsimons with a single of his own to right field.

The Blue Devils would put the game away with 10 runs on eight hits and one error in the top of the seventh inning en route to extending the lead out to 13-0.

Sophomore Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) would put the Seahawks on the board in the bottom part of the frame with a RBI single that chased home senior Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep).

Dini reached safely in all four of his plate appearances, finishing up 2-for-2 with a walk and hit by pitch.

Osak went 3-for-4 with three runs while DelaCruz drove in three to pace CCSU. RHP Nick Neumann (3-3) earned the win, striking out three in a complete game effort.

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Photography by Dave Saffran