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Pictured Above: Sophomore SS Nick Mascelli 

2015 NEC Championship Headquarters

Pictured Above: Sophomore SS Nick Mascelli 

Staten Island, NY -  The Wagner baseball team couldn't overcome an eight-run third inning as the Seahawks fell to Bryant, 11-4, in the second game of Friday's Northeast Conference (NEC) doubleheader, a result that clinched the Bulldogs' fourth consecutive regular-season title and accompanying No. 1 seed in next weekend's league tournament in Norwich, CT.

After winning game one by a 6-4 count, Wagner was two games behind Bryant in the NEC title chase and in need of a game two win, and another in tomorrow's regular season finale, in order gain the top seed in the league tourney. With the loss, Wagner falls 14-9 in league play (to 26-21-1 overall) while the Bulldogs improve to 17-6 (26-22 overall). At 14-9, the Seahawks have clinched the No. 2 seed while Sacred Heart (12-11) has clinched the No. 3 spot. Fairleigh Dickinson and Mount St. Mary's head into Saturday tied for fourth with identical 9-12 league marks.

Sophomore SS Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Freshman DH Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) went 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Junior LF Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) and freshman 3B Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) each recorded a hit in defeat. 

The Seahawks carried that momentum and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Mascelli doubled to right center field with one-man out and advanced to third on a Ruta ground-out.  Back-to-back walks were issued to senior C Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) and senior 1B Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ/Somerville) to load the bases.  Godino, facing a full count, smashed a double down the left field line scoring Mascelli and Dini for the early lead.

Bryant was able to trim the lead to 2-1 in the top half of the second.  With two-outs, AJ Zarozny fell behind 0-2 to fifth-year senior Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney).  Morris' next pitch was left in the zone and Zarozny connected for a solo home run over the left field wall.

Wagner tacked on a run in the bottom half of the frame. Senior CF Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area) drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on a two-out Ruta single down the first baseline. Ruta tried to stretch the single into a double and was thrown out at second.

The Bulldogs regained the lead in the top of the third and didn't look back as they visitors sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight times.  Morris was able to get John Mullen to foul out behind the first base bag but was unable to record the third out in the inning as Buck McCarthy sent the 1-2 pitch over the left field wall to give Bryant a 5-3 lead.  Two pitches later, Zach Wood connected on a solo shot to make it 6-3.  Dan Cellucci singled to left to score a run and Jordan Mountford sent a two-run double into right to make it 9-3.

The visitors added to its lead with a run in the top of the fourth as McCarthy launched a double off the wall in left-center scoring Cole Fabio.  The Seahawks scored in the bottom of the fifth as Mazurkiewicz reach on an error by the centerfielder, scoring Mascelli from second to cut the lead to 10-4. 

McCarthy capped off his 3-for-4, 5 RBI day with a double down the left field line that reached the Wagner bullpen allowing John Mullen to score from first.

Morris allowed six hits, seven runs (two earned) in just 2.2 innings as he falls to 2-5 on the year.  Brandon Bingel, who went 1-for-5 at the plate, earned his fourth victory of the year, lasting five innings.

The Seahawks and Bulldogs conclude the 2015 regular season on Saturday with a single game scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm.  Prior to the start of the game, the Seahawks will honor their ten seniors, who will be playing in their final contest at Richmond County Bank Ballpark (Anthony Battaglia, Steven Bloodworth, Nick Dini, Jason Gordon, Tommy Mazurkiewicz, Trey Nicosia, Evon Previte, Max Schmardel, Dan Wasilick and Zack Yesko).

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