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Tampa, FL- Despite scoring the first run of the ballgame, the Wagner College baseball team couldn't cool off the hot hitting University of South Florida Bulls on Saturday, falling 9-2 at the USF Baseball Stadium. The Seahawks, who managed just four hits in Friday night's affair, doubled their hitting output, garnering a total of eight hits, four of which coming from the top four batters in head coach Jim Carone's lineup.

After recording their first run in the eighth inning of Friday's contest, Wagner got the scoring going as junior Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor Plainsboro South) reached on a error by USF's shortstop, Kyle Teaf which allowed sophomore shortstop Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) came around and score.

Similar to last night's contest, the Bulls needed just one inning to break the game open as they erupted for five in the bottom half of the inning. Kevin Merrell kicked off the inning by connecting on a 0-1 pitch from starter, Mike Adams (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Holy Spirit) (0-1). Teaf followed it up with a single to left center, scoring Merrell to even the score at one and eventually found himself in scoring position by stealing second.  Adams walked Luke Maglich and couldn't control his pitch as it wound up hitting Levi Borders.

With two on and one out, Luke Borders doubled to right center driving in both Maglich and Borders giving the Bulls a 3-1 advantage.  USF added two more as Nik Alfonso drove in both Levi and Luke Borders giving the home team a 5-1 lead after the first inning.

The Seahawks were able to keep the Bulls off the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth as Levi Borders connected on a solo homerun off a 3-2 pitch from Adams.  It would prove to be Adams' last batter as he finished the game going four innings, allowing 10 hits, six runs (all earned) while striking out five and walking one.  Sophomore right-handed pitcher Austin Goeke (Bordentown, NJ/The Hun School) relieved Adams, as he allowed just one hit, unfortunately it was a two-run double from Hayden Kelley to give the Bulls a 6-1 lead.

In the top half of the sixth, senior outfielder Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area) doubled down the right field line. After Ruta struck-out swinging, senior Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) singled to center, advancing Nicosia to third.  Sophomore Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) pinch-hit for newcomer Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School (DE)) and grounded out to third, advancing Dini to second and scoring Nicosia. 

The Bulls were held scoreless until the fifth inning when Levi Borders crushed a solo home run to left field. It was the second of the season for the junior, who scored a two-run homer against Louisville, and third of his career.

USF added runs in the seventh and eighth innings on a two-run, two-out double by Austin Lueck and a Maglich RBI single securing the Bulls second straight win.  

Casey Mulholland (1-1) earned the win after giving up just two runs (one earned) on six hits in seven innings of work. Despite two errors, Teaf had an impressive outing at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one run and an RBI. Levi Borders went 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI.

The Seahawks and Bulls wrap up the series on Sunday at 1:00 pm