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Farmville, VA – Despite solid hitting days from senior RF Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) and junior SS Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep), the Wagner baseball team dropped game two of a three-game series at Longwood this afternoon, 6-3.
 
Wagner falls to 0-2 on the year while the Lancers stand at 2-3. Junior right-hander Austin Goeke (Bordentown, NJ/The Hun School) took the ball for his season debut today, tossing five innings, giving up four hits, five runs (all earned) while walking two and striking out four. Senior right-hander Nick Pavia (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph's By The Sea) came on in relief of Goeke, hurling three innings of one-hit ball, allowing a run while fanning two Lancers.
 
Longwood's Luke Simpson was the Lancers' starter, lasting three innings while giving up four hits, two runs (1 ER) while walking four and striking out two before Michael Caitlin came on in relief, also throwing three innings and yielded four hits but surrendered just one earned run and struck out a batter.  Devin Gould closed the game out with a three-inning save, in which he gave up two hits and struck out five batters for his first save of the season.
 
Wagner struck for the game's first run. With one out in the top of the first, senior Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area) roped a single to right field. After Ruta had flown out to left, Nicosia was able to steal second, giving the Seahawks a runner in scoring position with two outs.  Sophomore LF Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) and senior 1B John Lynn (Wallingford, PA/Salesianum School [DE] were each issued free passes, loading the bases for freshman designated hitter, Will Johnson (Toms River, NJ/Toms River High School East).  The left-hand hitting Johnson smacked a shot to shortstop, but it wasn't fielded correctly by Michael Osinski, as Nicosia crossed the plate, giving Wagner a 1-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Longwood answered back with a three-run inning off a pair of home runs.  Connar Bastaich sent Goeke's delivery over the left field wall that tied the game at one.  Following a  walk to Osinski, Alex Lewis gave Longwood a 3-1 advantage after connecting on a deep home run that sailed over the left centerfield wall. Goeke was able to regain his composure and got the final two outs of the frame.

The Seahawks trimmed the deficit to one, 3-2, in the top half of the third. Ruta started the frame with a single through the right side, and Godino followed with a double down the left line that scored Ruta from first base. 
 
After both teams had been blanked in the fourth and fifth, respectively, the Seahawks tied the game in its half of the sixth on a two-out rally highlighted by three straight hits.  Sophomore 3B Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) singled to short followed by a single to left off the bat of sophomore 2B Kyle Brey (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South). Mascelli was able to single through the left side which plated Mazzio.
 
The Lancers answered back in their half of the sixth, which propelled them to the victory. Lewis walked and Drew Kitson was hit by a pitch, giving Longwood runners at first and second and no one out. Head Coach Jim Carone went to his bullpen in the form of Pavia, who was making his first appearance of the season.  Pavia was tested early, fielding a bunt off the bat of Mac McCafferty, which moved Lewis and Kitson to third and second.  Brandon Harvell delivered the big blow, sending a double to left which plated by Lewis and Kitson.  Longwood added the insurance run off a fielding error from Mascelli.
 
The Seahawks had a shot in the final inning.  Mascelli reached on a fielding error by Osinski and advanced to second on a wild pitch from Gould.  Ruta connected on his third hit of the afternoon, sending a single down the left-field line, putting runners on the corners with two outs.  Godino put solid contact on the ball, but Osinski was able to field the grounder and toss over to Harvell at second ending the ballgame.

Wagner will look to avoid the three-game sweep on its opening series as the Seahawks send senior left-hander Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) to the hill.  He will be making his season debut on Sunday afternoon against Zach Potojecki, who is 0-1 on the season.

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