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Piscataway, NJ – Despite out-hitting Big-Ten member Rutgers, the Wagner baseball team fell to the Scarlet Knights, 7-1, on Tuesday afternoon at Bainton Field.
With the loss, the Seahawks fall to 16-15-1 on the season while the Scarlet Knights now stand at 13-26-1 on the year. 

Sophomore Austin Goeke (Bordentown, NJ/The Hun School) suffered the loss, falling to 1-2 on the year, as the second-year right-hander lasted four innings, giving up just two hits, three runs (zero earned) while walking four batters and striking out six. Goeke's counterpart, John O'Reilly, threw seven scoreless innings while giving up six hits, walking one and striking out five to earn his fourth victory of the season.

After his six-game hit streak was snapped on Sunday at NJIT, senior CF Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area) picked up two of the Seahawks' seven hits. Sophomore SS Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) went 1-for-4 in today's contest after having his nine-game hit streak stopped against the Highlanders. Freshman OF Kyle Cala (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) had the lone RBI of the game for Wagner with a single in the ninth.

With both starters throwing scoreless first innings, the Scarlet Knights scored twice in the bottom of the second while adding a run in the bottom of the third on just one hit between the two innings. After Goeke issued a walk to C Chris Folinusz, CF Mike Carter grounded out to freshman 3B Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) advancing Folinusz to second. Christian Campbell reached on a error from senior 2B Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) allowing Folinusz to come around for the first run of the game. Rutgers added its second run on a RBI single to center from SS John Jennings. In the bottom half of the third, 2B Chris Suseck crossed the plate on a wild pitch from Goeke giving the Scarlet Knights an early 3-0 advantage.

Wagner had a chance in the top of the fifth with two-men out as sophomore C Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) reached on a single to the third baseman. Senior RF Zack Yesko (Mukwonago, WI/Mukwonago) followed with a single down the left field line, advancing Benecke to second but the inning was over as O'Reilly was able to induce an inning-ending grounder off the bat of Mazzio to get out of the inning.

Kyle Walker sent a ground-rule double to deep centerfield, which brought in the Scarlet Knights' fourth run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after sophomore left-hander Nick DiLeo (Brooklyn, NY/Xavier [St. John's]) walked the first two batters he faced in relief of Goeke. Milo Freeman drove in two more runs for the home team with a double to left center and Carter added a single to score Freeman capping off a four-run fifth inning for Rutgers and expanding the lead to 7-0.

In the top of the sixth, the Seahawks had back-to-back hits from Nicosia and Mascelli but were stranded as O'Reilly ended the rally with back-to-back fly-outs and a ground-out.

Freshman DH Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) and sophomore C Jason Gordon (Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Curley) each drew walks and Cala put Wagner on the board with a single to right centerfield, scoring Godino to make it 7-1.

Wagner will resume Northeast Conference (NEC) play this weekend at home as they welcome the Central Connecticut Blue Devils to Richmond County Bank Ballpark for a pivotal four-game set, starting Friday, April 24. Sophomore right-hander Nolan Long (Waterford, CT/Waterford [South Kent Prep]) is expected to take the hill in the series opener.