Pictured above: Freshman first baseman Anthony Harrold (Keith Lucas, Sideline Media)

Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)
 
Queens, NY – Despite producing 12 hits in the contest and scoring early in the contest, the Wagner baseball team dropped a 9-5 decision on the road at Big East rival, St. John's, this afternoon. With the loss, the Seahawks saw its season-high four game win streak snapped as they now stand at 8-10 while the Red Storm improve to 12-9-1.
 
Freshman 1B Anthony Harrold (Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) went 3-for-5 at the plate. Sophomore 3B Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) and newly minted Northeast Conference (NEC) Rookie of the Week, freshman designated hitter Phil Capra (North Salem, NY/North Salem) each had two hits with both Harrold and Capra each producing an RBI. Wagner also got RBI hits from sophomore LF Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) and freshman RF Anthony Pecora (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck).
 
Senior LHP Paul Mammino (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) lasted just 1.1 innings in his first start of the season, allowing a season-high nine runs (eight earned) on six hits, striking out three and walking two batters in suffering his second loss of the year (1-2). After surrendering the nine runs in the first two innings, the Seahawks bullpen held the Johnnies at bay, tossing 6.2 innings of scoreless ball while yielding just three hits.  Senior relievers Nathan Hunt (Kirtland, OH/Hawken School) and left-hander Nick DiLeo (Brooklyn, NY/Xavier [St. John's]) combined to log five innings of work in relief of Mammino.
 
St. John's used seven pitchers in relief of freshman starter Matt Messier, who went two innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs and struck out one. Kevin Torres, who came on in the sixth, picked up his first win of the season as he lasted two innings, not allowing a run or hit despite walking two and fanning a batter.
 
After a scoreless top of the first, St. John's scored three times on two hits. Mammino was able to set down Alex Caruso, who looked at strike three. A base hit from Jamie Galazin got the St. John's bats going.
 
After Troy Dixon was hit-by-a-pitch and Gavin Garay drew a walk, Jesse Berardi reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Galazin as St. John's led 1-0. Josh Shaw sent a two-run double to the left field corner and advanced to third on a mishap by Godino which plated both Berardi and Dixon to give the Red Storm a 3-0 advantage.
 
Wagner was able to cut the deficit to one, 3-2, in the top of the second. Capra took the first pitch from Messier down the left field line. Harrold followed suit, sending the first pitch he saw to center scoring Capra. A sacrifice bunt from Pecora and a grounder from senior backstop John Lynn (Wallingford, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) moved Harrold to third. Messier lost control on a slider in the dirt to sophomore 2B Kyle Brey (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South), which brought in Harrold closing the gap to one. 

In the bottom of the frame, St. John's erupted for six runs in the stanza which proved to be the difference in the contest. A leadoff single to Gingras had the St. John's offense in motion. Mammino was able regain his composure on the mound and get Ty Blankmeyer swinging on a 3-2 off-speed pitch for the first out of the inning.
 
Facing a 1-1 count, Caruso singled through the right side, setting runners on first and second.  Galazin delivered an RBI double down the left field line as Gingras scored the fourth run of the contest for SJU. Dixon reached on catcher's interference which loaded the bases for Garay, who drew a walk as St. John's took a 5-2 lead.
 
Mammino had 1-2 count on Berardi before he sent a double to left center, scoring both Dixon and Galazin as the Red Strom held a 7-2 lead and ending Mammino's afternoon.  Hunt came on, retiring Josh Shaw on a pop out to reigning NEC Player of the Week, junior shortstop Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep). The next batter, Michael Donadio doubled to left field, bringing home Berardi and Garay as St. John's held a 9-2 advantage.
 
The Seahawks answered back with three runs in the top of the third. Mascelli jumped started Wagner's offense with a single to left field, extending his hit streak to seven straight games.  A single by Mazzio had runners on first and second and no one out for Wagner.  After senior CF Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) had flown out to center, Godino singled to right center, scoring Mascelli as Wagner found themselves down 9-3. 

Capra singled through the right side scoring Mazzio as the comeback attempt was underway, with the Green & White now down 9-4 and only one out in the frame.  Harrold singled, and the visitors had the bases loaded, forcing St. John's to go to its bullpen. Joe Kelly came on in relief of David Moyer. Pecora greeted Kelly with a sac-fly to center as Godino tagged up and scored as Wagner trailed 9-5. A groundout to first ended the Seahawks threat.

Wagner's best chance came in the sixth as the Seahawks had runners on second and third and one out. Ruta sent a hot shot down the third-base line that was stopped by Shaw, who fired a rocket to first for the second out. Capra was retired on a ground ball to first to end frame.
 
The Seahawks will look to rebound this weekend as conference play resumes with the Green & White welcoming the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils to Richmond County Bank Ballpark. These two teams will play a single, nine-inning game on Friday, April 1st at 3:00 p.m. followed by an afternoon doubleheader on Saturday and the conclusion of the four-game set on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Follow Wagner Athletics on Facebook (facebook.com/WagnerAthletics), Twitter (@wagnerathletics), Instagram (@wagnerathletics) and YouTube (@WagnerSeahawks) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department. Follow Wagner Baseball on Twitter (@WagBaseball) for news and information about the team.