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Norwich, CT - Top-seeded Bryant scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh en route to posting a 5-2 win over No. 4 Wagner in the opening game of the 2014 Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament at Dodd Stadium.
The Seahawks had their chances, but stranded 13 runners on the bases, including leaving them loaded in the bottom of the eighth and will now face No. 3 Sacred Heart in an elimination game on Friday, May 23 at 12:00 pm.
Wagner threatened in the top of the first, loading the bases with one out but were denied when First Team All-NEC starting pitcher Kevin McAvoy induced an inning-ending double play grounder. The Seahawks would again threaten in the top of the third, but would be denied in stranding a pair while starting a troubling trend.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Tom Gavitt led off with a walk before moving to third on a Cole Fabio single. Gavitt then crossed the plate on a throwing error before Fabio would later score on a fielder's choice grounder. Senior LHP
Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ / St. John Vianney) evaded further damage by inducing an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play.
After leaving seven runners on the bases over the first five frames, the Seahawks finally broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Juniors
Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ / Somerville) and
Jason Gordon (Baltimore, MD / Archbishop Curley) led off with back-to-back singles. Classmate
Zack Yesko (Mukwonago, WI / Mukwonago) then delivered a one-out single to plate Mazurkiewicz while trimming the deficit to 2-1. Junior
Trey Nicosia (State College, PA / State College Area) followed by forcing in Gordon with a sacrifice fly while tying the score up at 2-2.
After allowing a pair of third-inning runs, Morris settled down and got the side in order in each of his two frames before hitting Jordan Mountford to open the sixth. However, Morris induced a pair of fly outs before getting the dangerous AJ Zarozny to ground out to keep the score knotted at 2-2.
Wagner would again leave a pair in the top of the seventh before Bryant used a one-out rally to gain control of the game in the bottom part of the frame. Robby Rinn reached via a one-out single before Gavitt drew a walk. The pair then advanced to second-and-third on a wild pitch before Fabio reached on an infield single while forcing in Rinn. Dan Cellucci followed with a single through the left side to score Gavitt. Mountford then capped the big frame by plating Cellucci with a sacrifice fly to left field.
McAvoy quickly got the first outs of the top of the eight before Nicosia and freshman
Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ / Seton Hall Prep) singled. Senior
Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Ellsworth CC (IA)) then drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. McAvoy then coaxed what appeared to be an inning-ending pop up in foul territory only to see the ball dropped. Dini batted back to a full count before McAvoy evaded trouble by inducing a pop up while leaving the bases loaded.
After Bryant went in order in the bottom of the frame, McAvoy got the final three outs in the ninth to finish off the win.
The Bulldogs improve to 40-14 while the Seahawks fall to 19-34.
Morris (3-7) was outstanding in defeat, allowing four runs on three hits with one strikeout over 6.1 innings.
Gordon, Mascelli and Mazurkiewicz all notched two hits to pace a Green & White attack that saw every regular reach safely.
McAvoy (9-1) earned the win, striking out seven while allowing two runs on 10 hits and four walks.
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Photography by Steve McLaughlin
