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Santa Barbara, CA - Joey Epperson went 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs to lead No. 15 UC Santa Barbara to a 9-2 victory over Wagner in the series finale between the teams at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

With the four-game sweep, the Gauchos improve to 17-3 while the Seahawks fall to 2-15.

UC Santa Barbara opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first as Andrew Calica was plunked before stealing second and third. The Gaucho leadoff hitter then crossed the plate on an Epperson single up the middle. Wagner evaded further damage as sophomore LHP Paul Mammino (Hillsborough, NJ / Hillsborough) induced an inning-ending double play groundout.

UCSB threatened again in the bottom of the second with a pair of one-out singles only to be denied by Mammino, who induced a fly out and an inning-ending grounder.

In the bottom of the third, the Gauchos added to the lead as Epperson collected his second RBI, scoring Calica with an infield single to short. Epperson would later score on Scott Quinlan's RBI single in extending the lead out to 3-0.

UCSB extended the lead to 5-0 with two more runs bottom of the fifth inning while chasing Mammino from the game. However, the damage could have been worse but junior reliever RHP Steven Bloodworth (Annandale, NJ / North Hunterdon) recorded a strikeout with the bases loaded for the second out. Freshman Evan Fardella (Bartonsville, PA / Pocono Mountain East) then ended the frame with an impressive running grab while saving a pair of runs.

After both teams were quiet over the next two innings, Wagner rallied for a pair of two-out runs in the top of the eighth. Freshman Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ / Jackson Liberty) got the rally started with a one-out double to left field while recording his first collegiate hit. Following a fly out, he scored on Nick Mascelli's (Fr., Clifton, NJ / Seton Hall Prep) RBI single to right field. Senior Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Ellsworth CC (IA)) then picked up Mascelli with a run- scoring double through the left side in cutting the deficit to 5-2.

Unfortunately, UC Santa Barbara rallied with four runs in the bottom part of the frame while providing the final 9-2 tally.

LHP Domenic Mazza (2-1) earned the win, striking out 10, against just one walk, while yielding one run on four hits over 7.2 innings.

Mammino (0-4) was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs over 4.0 innings of work.

Wagner returns to action at Monmouth on Tuesday, March 25 with first pitch slated for 3:00 pm.

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