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Emmitsburg, MD – Wagner's starting pitcher
Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) and a duo of relievers kept the Mountaineers offense in check while junior SS
Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and senior CF
Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) provided the offense as the Seahawks took the series finale from Mount St. Mary's, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, Wagner has now won four straight contests, improving their overall record to 8-9 and now stand at 4-0 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play. The Mountaineers fall to 2-16 and 1-7 in league play. Today's victory marked the 100th career win for 2015 NEC Coach of the Year,
Jim Carone. Carone becomes just the fourth Seahawk head coach to amass 100 victories, joining Joe Litterio (240), Herb Sutter (149), and Rich Vitaliano (120).
Morris (2-1) and Mount starter Connor Graber matched each other's zeroes through the first five innings with Morris allowing just three hits and striking out four batters. Graber, on the other hand, lasted eight innings, giving up four hits, one run and striking out five.
In the sixth, however, Wagner broke the deadlock.
Junior backstop
Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) opened the frame with a double to left-center and advanced to third on a passed ball. After sophomore 2B
Kyle Brey (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) grounded out to second, Mascelli flew out to center as Benecke tagged up from third, scoring the game's first run.
In the bottom of the sixth, head coach
Jim Carone went to the bullpen in the form of senior RHP
Nathan Hunt (Kirtland, OH/Hawken School). After allowing a leadoff single to Zach Hostetter and a walk to Tyler Post, Hunt settled down and struck out Patrick Causa looking. Hunt was able to get Vaughn Parker II to ground into the 1-4-3 double play to end the stanza.
After a scoreless top half of the eight, coach Carone signaled to senior RHP
Nick Pavia (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea). Pavia was able to strike out Alex Kriss before Hostetter singled through the left side. The veteran Seahawk hurler regained his focus on the hill, getting Post to fly-out to center and closing out the inning with a strike out of Causa.
Wagner tacked on its second run of the contest in the final inning. Mascelli led off with a single to center field. After sophomore 3B
Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) executed a sacrifice bunt, advancing Mascelli to second, Ruta singled up the middle which plated Mascelli, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Pavia only surrendered a lead-off single through the left side off the bat of Parker II. Dennis Stewart pinch-hit for Zach Call and struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch. The Mountaineers used another pinch hitter in Dalton Clouser. Pavia was able to get him to fly out to left. The Mount's final batter, Tommy Quealy, grounded out to short preserving the shutout and extending Wagner's win streak to four.
The Seahawks will be back in action on Wednesday, March 30 as they make the short trip to Queens and square off against the St. John's University Red Storm. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN3 on the Watch ESPN app.
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