Photo by: Keith Lucas, Sideline Media

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Richmond, VA – Despite staging a three-run seventh inning to spark a comeback effort, the Wagner baseball team fell to the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rams, 9-5, in the second game of a three-game set this afternoon at The Diamond.

With the loss, Wagner falls to 3-6 on the year while the Rams improves to 8-5 on the season.  With inclement weather projected in the forecast around the Richmond area, tomorrow's series finale, originally schedule for a 1:00 p.m. start has been pushed up an hour earlier and will now be a noon start.

Senior LHP Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) suffered his first defeat of the young season, as he lasted 2.0 innings, allowing six hits, four earned runs and walking two rams. Senior reliever Nathan Hunt (Kirtland, OH/Hawken School) made his third appearance out of the pen this season, tossing two innings, surrendering three runs (one earned) and yielded two hits while striking out two Ram batters. 

Freshman left-hander Neil Abbatiello (North Salem, NY/Dobbs Ferry), who made his first start of the season at No. 10 ranked Virginia on March 9, came on in relief to pitch a season-high four innings, allowing three hits, two runs (both earned) while walking three and fanning two. 

A pair of freshmen led highlighted the day at the plate for the Seahawks. Phil Capra (North Salem, NY/North Salem, went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Anthony Pecora (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck High School), who entered the ballgame in the top of the seventh.  recorded his first collegiate hit and RBIs, finishing 1-of-2 on the day. 

The Rams sent eight of its first nine batters to the plate, resulting in game's first three runs.  With two outs, Jimmy Kerrigan doubled down the left field line, scoring both Matt Davis and Brody Cook to give VCU a 2-0 lead. The next batter, Cody Acker, singled up the middle which brought Kerrigan around to score giving VCU a 3-0 advantage. 

Wagner scored its first run of the game in the top of the second. Freshman 1B Anthony Harrold (Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) kick-started the frame with a double down the left field line. With one-out, Capra took Brooks Vial 1-2 pitch down the right field line, which scored Harrold, trimming the deficit to two, 3-1. 

VCU added a run in the bottom of the third as Acker reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Darian Carpenter from third, increasing VCU's lead to 4-1. 

The Green & White was able to keep the game within reach when senior catcher, John Lynn (Wallingford, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) singled through the left side, scoring sophomore LF Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) from third base.

In the bottom of the fourth, VCU struck for three more runs on two hits to take a 7-2 lead. Matt Davis singled to center which scored Mitchel Lacey from second base. After Davis had stolen second, Logan Farrar scored on a throwing error by Lynn before Davis crossed the plate on a wild pitch. 

The Seahawks mounted its comeback attempt in the top of the seventh, closing the gap to 7-5. 

A single by sophomore 3B Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) jumped started the inning for the visitors. With one out, junior SS took a 1-1 pitch to center, setting up runners on the corner for Wagner.

Senior RF Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) stepped up to the plate and connected on a 2-1 delivery that he sent to deep, left center field, scoring Mazzio. A walk to Harrold loaded up the bases for Pecora.

Pecora entered the contest for Godino in the top of the sixth, smacked a 0-2 pitch down the left field line, scoring Mascelli and Ruta, as Wagner trailed 7-5. 

VCU fired the final salvo of the contest in the bottom half of the inning. A walk to Carpenter and a double by Kerrigan gave the Rams runners in scoring position. Carpenter scored on a wild pitch by Abbatiello. Following a free pass to Acker, James Bunn's bunt single scored Kerrigan, giving VCU a 9-5 advantage they would not squander.  

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