Box Score | Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF)

Santa Barbara, CA - Tyler Kuresa hit three home runs to propel No. 15 UC Santa Barbara to an 8-4 come-from-behind win over Wagner in the first of a four game series at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

With the victory, the Gauchos improve to 14-3 while the Seahawks fall to 2-12.

The loss spoiled a brilliant performance by senior Ryan Casey (Paramus, NJ / St. Joseph Regional) as the righty allowed just a pair of solo home runs over 6.0 innings while striking out two, against no walks, in earning a no-decision.

Wagner opened up the scoring with two runs in the third inning. Freshman Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ / Seton Hall Prep) got things rolling with a leadoff single to left field. After moving to second on Chris Smith's (Sr., Tampa, FL / Ellsworth CC (IA)) sacrifice bunt, junior Nick Dini's (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) plated Mascelli with a run-scoring triple to right field. Dini then came around to score on the next play as senior Shaun Flynn (Tabernacle, NJ / Burlington CC) reached on an infield single.

Casey retired the first eight batters he faced before running into trouble in the bottom part of the frame with two outs. Jackson Morrow got the UCSB rally started with an infield  single before the next two batters followed suit with singles. However, UC Santa Barbara would be denied as Mascelli made an impressive play to get Joey Epperson at third base for the final out of the frame on a fielder's choice grounder.

The Gauchos would finally dent the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on Kuresa's first home run of the game while slicing the Seahawk lead in half to 2-1.

Wagner immediately responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Mascelli led off with a single to left field before moving to third on a Smith double to left field. Dini and Flynn followed with sacrifice flies to score Mascelli and Smith while extending the lead out to 4-1.

UCSB again threatened in the bottom part of the frame as Morrow was plunked leading off the frame and Epperson followed with a single. However, on the ensuing play Casey got the lead runner on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt before inducing an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

UC Santa Barbara used another Kuresa solo home run to cut the Seahawk advantage to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to further dent the scoreboard thanks to Casey. The Paramus native then capped his impressive outing by stranding a pair of Gauchos on the bases thanks to an impressive pick by Mascelli before the Green & White shortstop threw over to Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Jr., Neshanic Station, NJ / Somerville) at first base for the final out.

After Casey exited, the Gauchos took advantage as Kuresa clouted his third-straight home run over the right field fence in staking the home team to a 5-4 lead.

UCSB would add to the lead with three runs in the bottom of the eighth en route to posting the aforementioned 8-4 victory.

Mascelli, Smith, Dini and Flynn combined to go 6-for-12 with four runs and four RBI to lead the way for the Seahawks.

Joey Epperson, who is second in the nation with a .492 average, went 2-for-3 with two walks while Kuresa was 3-for-4 with three home runs and five RBI to lead a 14-hit Gaucho attack.

UCSB LHP Justin Jacome (4-0) earned the win, striking out four while yielding four runs on six hits over 7.0 innings.

The teams will resume their series tomorrow with a 3:00 pm (EST) doubleheader.

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