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New Britain, CT - Central Connecticut scored six unanswered runs to break open what was a close game en route to defeating Wagner 8-2 in the first game of a doubleheader at the CCSU Baseball Field.

The Blue Devils improve to 15-15 and 6-7 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Seahawks fall to 12-24 and 5-4 in the league.

Central Connecticut struck first for an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Anthony Turgeon smoked a two-out single up the middle before stealing second. However, on the play the ball got past the fielder covering the base and the center fielder to allow Turgeon to race home safely.

Wagner would immediately rally to tie the score at 1-1 in the top of the second. Senior Shaun Flynn (Tabernacle, NJ / Burlington CC) led off with a double and would come around to score on junior Zack Yesko's (Mukwonago, WI / Mukwonago) one-out sacrifice fly.

The Seahawks wouldn't record another hit until the top of the fourth but it was worth the wait as senior Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Ellsworth CC (IA)) clouted a solo home run to left center, giving the visitors a 2-1 advantage.

In the bottom part of the frame, the Blue Devils immediately responded as Turgeon led off with a single before advancing to second on a ground out. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Turgeon would come around to score on a Dominic Severino's sacrifice fly while knotting the score at 2-2

CCSU then reclaimed the lead in the sixth inning while chasing Green & White starter freshman RHP Danny Marsh (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) from the game. J.P. Sportman led off with a double before moving to third on Franklin Jennings' bunt single. Turgeon then blooped a single to right field while in the process plating Sportman with the go-ahead run. Josh Ingham followed with a sacrfice to give Central Connecticut runners at second and third with one out. Junior RHP Anthony Battaglia (Staten Island, NY / St. Joseph By The Sea) entered in relief and promptly got the lead runner at the plate on a fielder's choice grounder before Pat Sirois delivered a run-scoring single up the middle to make it a 4-2 game.

The Blue Devils added to the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings in extending its lead out to an insurmountable 8-2 margin.

Wagner would threaten in the top of the ninth, loading up the bases with no outs but was unable to dent the scoreboard.

Smith went 2-for-4 with his team-best matching third home run and a double to lead the way for the Seahawks.

Marsh (3-3) was saddled with the loss, striking out three while allowing four runs on five hits over 5.1 innings.

Turgeon went 3-for-4 with three runs while Sportman was 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two runs to pace a 10-hit CCSU attack.

Anthony Mannuccia (1-3) earned the win in relief, striking out three over 4.0 scoreless inning of three-hit ball.

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