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Pictured Above (left to right): Sophomore Nolan Long, Junior Ben Ruta, Senior Zack Yesko

Emmitsburg, MD- After tying the game in the top of the sixth, the Wagner baseball team scored five runs in the top of the seventh as the Seahawks extended their winning streak to six with a 7-2 victory in the series opener against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers on Friday afternoon.

With the win, the Green & White improve to 22-15-1 and 10-3 in the Northeast Conference (NEC).maintaining their one-game first-place lead over Bryant, while the Mountaineers fall to 9-26 overall and 7-10 in league play.

Reigning NEC Pitcher of the Week Nolan Long (Waterford, CT/Waterford [South Kent Prep] hurled seven strong innings, as the 6'10" sophomore right-hander allowed just four hits and two runs (both earned) while striking out nine and walking just two en route to posting his third straight victory. Over these last three starts, Long has allowed just five runs while recording 27 strikeouts.

"Nolan [Long] was in complete control the whole game," said head coach Jim Carone. "He had excellent command of all his pitches and was able to put Mount's hitters away once he got to two strikes."

Seven of the nine position players for the Green & White recorded at least one hit with reigning NEC Player of the Week, senior C Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township), leading the way with three hits, two runs scored and a RBI while who appearing in his 202nd straight game,

Junior LF Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West- Windsor Plainsboro South) went 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and a run scored while freshman 3B Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) also plated 2 RBIs, going 1-for-3. In addition, senior RF Zack Yesko (Mukwonago, WI/Mukwonago) 2 RBI.

Wagner struck first in the top of the second inning as Yesko reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Dini to come in from third to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.  The Mountaineers scored twice in their half of the third as Andrew Clow singled to center field, scoring Brendan Dabagian and Kory Britton doubled in Clow as the Mount took a 2-1 lead.

The Seahawks evened the score in the top of the sixth as Mazzio singled down the left field line, allowing NEC Rookie of the Week Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) to score from second but Mazzio was gunned out at second in trying to stretch the single into a double. 

Long recorded three straight 1-2-3 innings which helped Wagner setup its big five-run top of the seventh inning. Senior CF Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area) led off the frame with a double down the right field line. Sophomore SS Nick Mascelli followed with an infield hit to his counterpart at short as Nicosia advanced to third. Ruta then delivered the biggest blow of the game as he laced a double to right center, scoring Nicosia and Mascelli, and giving Wagner a 4-2 lead.

Dini recorded the fourth straight hit in the stanza with a single up the middle, scoring Ruta from third, as Wagner took a 5-2 lead. A pair of grounders plated the Seahawks' sixth and seventh runs in the inning as Yesko and Mazzio were each credited with their second RBI of the game.

Senior Anthony Battaglia (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Long as the Seahawks secured its sixth straight win and career victory No. 87 for Carone who is in his fourth season at the helm of the Seahawk program.

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