Box Score (XML) | Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF)Bakersfield, CA – After having four games cancelled due to the wintry weather on the East Coast, the Wagner baseball team flew across country to start a six day, five game West Coast swing, starting this evening in Bakersfield, California as the Seahawks matched up with the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners on Friday evening.
Despite producing six hits, the Seahawks (0-3-1) were defeated in the series opener by the Roadrunners (7-6), 4-to-2 at Hardt Field.
Fifth-year senior left-hander
Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) (0-2) took the loss after pitching just 3.1 innings while surrendering five hits, four runs (all earned) while walking five. The Matawan, NJ native did strike-out a season-high six batters, five of which coming on swinging strikes. The trio of junior right-hander
Nathan Hunt (Kirtland, OH/Hawken School), and sophomores
Eric McGough (Media, PA/Archbishop John Carroll)
and lefty
Nick DiLeo (Brooklyn, NY/Xavier (St. John's) combined for 4.2 innings of scoreless relief with Hunt and McGough each fanning two.
CSU Bakersfield's Hayden Carter (2-1) pitched a complete game, six-hitter in which he allowed two runs (both earned) while walking one and striking out three Seahawks.
Sophomore designated hitter
Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) recorded his first multi-hit performance of the season as the second-year Garden State native went 2-for-4 with a RBI-double and a run scored.
Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area),
Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South),
Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ/Somerville) and
Kyle Cala (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) each recorded hits while freshman infielder
Phil Dickinson (Wenonah, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) recorded his first-collegiate RBI in the contest.
The Roadrunners scored two in the first inning with two-men out. Mylz Jones and Soloman Williams both drawing walks. Chance Gusbeth tripled to center field, scoring Jones and Williams. After two more free passes to Garrett Pierce and Max Carter, Morris was able to get out of the inning with a five-pitch punch-out of Logan Trowbridge.
The Seahawks got on the board in their half of the fourth inning as Dini, who appeared in his 168 straight contests, drew a five-pitch walk. Senior
Jason Gordon (Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Curley) was able to advance Dini when he grounded-out to the first baseman. On a 3-2 count, Benecke roped a single up-the-middle, scoring Dini from second to cut the CSUB lead to 2-1.
The home team responded with two more runs in the bottom of the inning as Trowbridge doubled to left center. After Joey Sanchez walked, Jordie Hein singled to left to move both runners in scoring position. David Metzgar singled through the left side of the infield, plating Trowbridge. Hunt relieved Morris and walked Jones, which allowed Sanchez to plate the fourth Roadrunner tally of the game. Hunt settled down and struck out Williams before ending the threat as Jones was out on a fielder's choice.
Benecke blasted a double to left field to kick off the seventh inning. After senior first baseman
Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ/Somerville) grounded-out to short, Benecke advanced 90 feet. The next batter for the Green & White was Dickinson, who slapped a grounder to second, plating the second run for Wagner but wasn't enough to overcome the early threat from CSUB.
These two teams will be back in action on Saturday, March 7
th at 9:00 (EST) as junior right-hander
Mike Adams (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Holy Spirit) (0-1; 13.50 ERA) takes the mound in his second outing of the season as he will be opposed by CSUB Steven Gee (1-1; 1.45)
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