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Staten Island, NY - Senior Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ / St. John Vianney) notched his first career complete game shutout in leading Wagner to a 1-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in today's opener at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

With the victory, the Seahawks improve to 7-20 and a robust 4-2 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Knights fall to 6-17 and 0-6 in the league.

Morris did not allow a leadoff batter to reach and recorded four perfect frames in moving to 2-4 on the season. Additionally, the hard-throwing lefty permitted just two runners to reach second base while limiting FDU to a miniscule .167 average (4-for-24).

In the top of the first, Fairleigh Dickinson had its best scoring opportunity of the game as Ryan Brennan drew a one-out walk before moving to second on Riley Moonan's single through the right side. However, Morris was able to evade trouble by inducing an inning-ending double play line drive to freshman Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ / Seton Hall Prep), who promptly flipped to junior Dan Wasilick (Toms River, NJ / Toms River East) at second for the third out.

Wagner then scored the game's lone run in the bottom of the frame despite not registering a hit. Senior Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Ellsworth CC (IA)) worked a one-out walk before senior Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) earned a free pass of his own. Smith then stole third and was plated on a Shaun Flynn (Sr., Tabernacle, NJ / Burlington CC) sacrifice fly to right center.

Morris then retired the side in order over the next three innings while Knight starting pitcher Joe Flack faced just one over minimum over that same stretch.

FDU then threatened again in the top of the fifth as Joel Roman singled with one out before Zack Tondi followed with a two-out single. However, Morris battled back to induce a weak grounder back to the mound to quell the rally.

The Seahawks finally notched its first hit of the game in the bottom part of the frame when Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ / Jackson Liberty) singled sharply through the left side before moving to second on a Wasilick sacrifice bunt. However, the Green & White were unable to convert as Flack got the final out of the frame by inducing a routine fly to right field.

After Fairleigh Dickinson left a man on the bases in the top of the sixth, Wagner loaded up the bases in the bottom part of the frame while chasing Flack from the game. Unfortunately, Knight reliever Eric Snyder avoided trouble by inducing an inning-ending double play grounder.

Morris, however, would not any insurance runs as he promptly ended the game without incident with a 1-2-3 seventh inning. The Garden State native struck out one while allowing just four hits and one walk over 7.0 innings of work.

Flack (0-5) was the tough-luck losing pitcher, surrendering one run on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts over 5.1 innings of work.

Smith led both teams on offense, reaching safely in all three trips to the plate with a double, two walks and a stolen base.

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