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Teaneck, NJ - Wagner broke open a close game with 11 runs in the fourth inning while sending 15 batters to the plate en route to posting a dominating 15-5 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in the first of four games between the teams at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.

With the victory, the Seahawks improve to 10-11-1 and 3-2 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play while the Knights fall to 7-13 and 1-4 in league action.

Fifth-year senior Nick Pavia (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) pitched five innings of three-hit ball to improve to 2-0 on the season.  Pavia, who came on for starter Nolan Long (Waterford, CT/Waterford [South Kent Prep]), gave up two earned runs while striking out three.

Long pitched four innings, allowing seven hits, three runs (all earned) while striking out four Knights. FDU's Joe Borelli lasted 3.2 innings, giving up seven hits, nine runs (eight earned) while walking four and striking out two as he falls to 0-4 on the season.

Wagner's 2-through-6 hitters combined to bat 10-for-20 on the afternoon, which included 11 RBIs, eight runs and six walks. Sophomore SS Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) went 4-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Freshman DH Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored.

Junior LF Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) and freshman 2B Phil Dickinson (Wenonah, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) each belted home runs in the game, with Ruta connecting on his team-leading third round-tripper of the year.

The Seahawks started their big day at the plate with a pair of first-inning runs. Senior Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area) was hit by a Borelli pitch to open the contest. Mascelli singled to move Nicosia over to second. Both runners advanced into scoring position on FDU catcher, Patrick McClure's. passed ball. Back-to-back walks to seniors Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) and Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ/Somerville) plated Wagner's first run. Godino added a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Mascelli in for the second run of the frame.

The Knights cut the deficit in half, 2-1, as McClure grounded into a double play, which allowed Matt McCann to cross the plate. The FDU threat came to an end as Dini was able to gun down Joel Roman at second base.

The Seahawks added a run in the top of the second as Mascelli sent a single back up the middle which scored Dickinson from second to give Wagner a 3-1 lead. Fairleigh Dickinson responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame as FDU tied the score at 3-3 on a McCann single up the middle, scoring John Giakas and Ryan Brennan. 

In the top of the third, the Green & White regained the lead as Godino doubled to right centerfield plating Dini giving Wagner a 4-3 edge. It would be the start of good things to come for fourth-year head coach Jim Carone's squad.

Dickinson muscled his first career home run to give the Seahawks a 5-3 lead to kick off the stanza. The visitors did the bulk of their damage with two outs and capped off the monster frame on a Ruta grand slam that ballooned the lead to 15-3.

The Knights added two runs in the sixth off the bat of Roman but Pavia settled down, not allowing a hit over the final three innings.

The teams will continue their series tomorrow with a 1:00 pm doubleheader.

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