Box Score (XML) | Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) | Staten Island Advance Recap

Staten Island, NY -  Junior RF Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning of a scheduled seven-inning game to propel the Wagner baseball team to an 8-7 win and a split of Saturday's doubleheader against NJIT.

With the come-from-behind victory, Wagner improves to 16-13-1 on the season while the Highlanders fall to 16-13-1 on year as the Seahawk have won two out of the first three games of this four-game series.

Senior 1B Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ/Somerville) tied a career-high with four hits while Ruta, along with senior CF Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area), and sophomore shortstop and reigning Northeast Conference Player of the Week Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep), each recorded three hits.

Fifth-year senior right-hander Nick Pavia (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) tossed 4.2 innings while garnering a no-decision. The combination of sophomore left-hander Nick DiLeo (Brooklyn, NY/Xavier [St. John's]), and senior righty's Anthony Battaglia (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) and Steven Bloodworth (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) combined to throw 4.1 innings of two-hit ball in relief as the trio allowed just one run while recording a combined five strikeouts. Bloodworth, who closed it out with three strikeouts over two scoreless innings, was credited with the win in improving to 2-0 on the year.

Similar to game one, Wagner scored the game's first run as Ruta sent a single to right field to drive in Mascelli. After NJIT answered with two runs in the top of the fourth to go ahead 2-1, Wagner tied the score in its half of the fourth inning as sophomore DH Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) sent a line-drive single to left field, scoring Mazurkiewicz, who had jump-started the inning with a single of his own. 

In the top of the fifth, the Highlanders erupted for four runs to take a 6-2 with the big blow, a Stephan Halibej three-run home run over the left field wall off of Pavia. DiLeo then came on in relief and needed just two pitches to close the stanza with a ground out.

Wagner rallied with two runs to cut the deficit to 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth as freshman LF Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) delivered a two-run single through the left side, plating Mazurkiewicz and Mascelli. 

After DiLeo tossed an efficient 1-2-3 top of the sixth, in which he needed just nine pitches to record three outs, Wagner rallied to tie the game at 6-6. With runners on first and second, Mascelli singled to left center, driving in senior Dan Wasilick (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East),  bringing the Green & White to within a run at 6-5. 

The next batter, Ruta, followed suit with a single to left, scoring Nicosia to tie the game at 6-6. In the top of the seventh, Battaglia came on to pitch and was tagged for a solo home run by Charlton which put NJIT back in front 7-6.

The Seahawks rallied for a run in the bottom of the sixth to forge a 7-7 tie. Benecke kicked-started the inning with a first-pitch double and was replaced at second base by pinch-runner Evan Fardella (Bartonsville, PA/Pocono Mountain East). After freshman 3B Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) struck out swinging, Wasilick drew a four-pitch walk to give the Seahawks runners on first and second with just one out. Nicosia was then drilled in the back with a 2-2 pitch that loaded the bases for Mascelli, who tied the game at 7-7 with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Fardella. 

That's the way the score remained until the bottom of the ninth. Nicosia reached one a one-out single singled to left and promptly stole second. Mascelli was then intentionally walked to bring up Ruta and the Garden State native came through by smashing a single to left, as Nicosia slid across the plate for the dramatic win. 

Wagner and NJIT will conclude the four-game series on Sunday, April 19 back in Newark, NJ with sophomore right-hander Austin Goeke (Bordentown, NJ/The Hun School) expected to take the hill for the Seahawks. 

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@WagnerAthletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department, @WagBaseball for news and updates on the baseball program.