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Hamden, CT - Freshman Ben Ruta's (West Windsor, NJ / West-Windsor Plainsboro South) two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth inning lifted Wagner to a 10-9 victory over Quinnpiac while capping four-game series sweep at the QU Baseball Field.

The Seahawks' four-game sweep was their first ever on the road during conference play since the Northeast Conference (NEC) expanded to four-game sets in 2007. It was also the Green & White's first four-game series sweep since taking four-straight from the Bobcats in the regular season finale in 2010.

With the win, Wagner improves to 19-23 and 12-8 in the NEC while Quinnipiac falls to 10-29 and 5-15 in the league.

QU  struck first with a run in the opening frame when Ryan Nelson was plunked with the bases loaded.

The Seahawks immediately got that run back with a two-out rally in the top of the second. Sophomore Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ / Somerville) crushed his team-leading 12th double to left field, before coming around to score on Nick Alfano's (Sr., Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) RBI single to left field.

Wagner then pounced for four big runs in the top of the third inning while batting around. Junior Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth CC (IA)) led off with a double, before moving to third on a fly out. Graduate student Chase Gray (Toms River, NJ / Toms River South / Seton Hall) then worked a full-count walk, before senior Jayson Keel (Starkville, MS / Starkville / Holmes CC) singled up the middle to plate Smith while moving Gray to third. Senior Shaun Flynn (Tabernacle, NJ / Seneca / Burlington CC) followed with a perfectly-executed hit-and-run that plated Gray while extending the lead out to 3-1. Following a strikeout, Ruta was plunked for the second-straight time to load the bases up with two outs. Keel and Flynn would then come around to score on an error while capping the scoring  in giving the Seahawks a 5-1 lead.

In the bottom part of the frame, the Bobcats got two of those runs back on a Vincent Guglietti RBI double and a Nelson run-scoring ground out.

After the QU reclaimed the lead at 6-5 with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Green & White wrestled the lead back at 8-6 with three runs on just one hit and one big error in the top of the fifth.

Flynn led off with a walk, before moving to third on a one-out Ruta double. Alfano followed with a dribbler back to the mound that the QU pitcher threw wide of first, allowing both Flynn and Ruta to score while advancing Alfano to third. Junior Ian Miller (Downingtown, PA / Bishop Shanahan) then plated Alfano with a sacrifice fly to conclude the scoring.

Quinnipiac would continue to fight and tied the game up at 8-8 with single runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings.

The teams would again trade runs in the eighth as Smith brought around Alfano with a sacrifice fly, before Scott Donaghue then plated Chris Migani on a fielder's choice grounder in the bottom part of the frame.

After two-quick outs in the top of the ninth inning, Wagner put together what would turn out to be the game-winning two-out rally. Flynn smashed a double through the left side, before Mazurkiewicz was intentionally walked. Ruta made Quinnipiac pay when he lined a tailing single off the centerfielder's glove, scoring Flynn while giving the Seahawks' insurmountable 10-9 lead.

In the bototm part of the frame, sophomore RHP Anthony Battaglia (Staten Island, NY / St. Joseph By The Sea) retired the side in order while securing the series sweep.

Flynn led the way on offense, finishing up 3-for-4 with three runs, a double and a RBI. Ruta also had a big day, going 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI while being plunked twice. Alfano was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI while rounding out the multi-hit performers. Gray also extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a double in the fourth inning, which was one of the Green & White's season-best matching five two-baggers.

Battaglia (2-2) earned the win, yielding one run on two hits over 2.0 innings with one strikeout.

Guglietti paced the Bobcats, finishing up 4-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI.

RHP Gary Binkiewicz (1-2) took the loss, allowing one run on two hits in an inning of relief.

Wagner returns to action at NJIT on Tuesday, April 30 at 6:00 pm.

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Photography by Dave Saffran