Picture Above: Senior RF Ben Ruta, who drove in two of Wagner's three runs in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader (Dave Saffran)

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Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College Seahawks baseball team led throughout the contest, but suffered a 6-3 loss to Fairleigh Dickinson in game two of Saturday's Northeast Conference (NEC) doubleheader.

With the loss, Wagner stands at 13-28 overall and 8-16 in league action while the Knights improve to 21-23 and 10-13 in conference play.  

Junior SS Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) continued his hot hitting at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Senior RF Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) and sophomore LF Kyle Cala (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) each had two hits with Ruta driving in two of Wagner's three runs in the contest.  

Senior LHP Matt Morris (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) went 6.2 innings, scattering seven hits while allowing two runs (one earned), walking two and striking out two batters in taking the no-decision.  For Morris, this afternoon's start marked the 44th of his career as a Seahawk, tying him with former Wagner hurler Joe Testa ('08) for first on the all-time career starts list.  

Freshman RHP Cory Heitler (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) pitched a third of an inning giving up a walk in his two batters faced.  Fellow classmate Neil Abbatiello (North Salem, NY/Dobbs Ferry) took the loss (2-4), after lasting two innings, and giving up five hits, four earned runs, all coming in the ninth.

Jason Fatzinger, John Giakas, and Bobby Romano each had two RBIs for Fairleigh Dickinson, with Romano driving in the tying and go-ahead runs in the ninth before Giakas added a two-run home run.  Corey Zeller went the distance, scattering nine hits, allowing three earned runs and striking out seven batters to pick the win (4-3). 

Both Morris and Zeller match identical scoreless frames over the first four innings before Fairleigh Dickinson scored the game's first run in the top of the fifth.  A leadoff single by Evan McDonald started the stanza. After Joel Roman had fouled out behind the plate, McDonald stole second and advanced to third on the overthrow from Wagner's junior catcher, Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty). Fatzinger singled through the right side scoring McDonald and giving FDU the early lead.

The Seahawks took the lead in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a three-run outburst.  Mascelli doubled to left and moved to third on a bunt single from senior CF Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area).  With the count in his favor at 1-0, Ruta smashed a double and advanced to third on the throw home, giving Wagner a 2-1 lead.  Godino brought home Ruta with a single as the Seahawks led 3-1.

The Knights cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the seventh. Patrick McClure singled to right center and moved into scoring position on a McDonald grounder.  Fatzinger took Morris 0-1 pitch to right field, scoring McClure. Shane Siebler singled through the right side ending Morris' outing.  After Heitler had walked Dylan Sprague, he was able to induce the inning-ending ground of Romano and preserving the Seahawks one-run lead. 

Abbatiello worked a scoreless eighth inning, allowing just a single to Brennan before back-to-back fly outs to left concluded the frame.  The Green & White was set down in order setting heading into the final inning.

Roman singled to right starting the top of the ninth. He was promptly pinch-ran for in the form of Craig Alleyne II.  Fatzinger sent his third hit of the game to right as Alleyne hustled into third. Abbatiello was able to set down Siebler, who fouled out to newly inserted first baseman, senior John Lynn (Wallingford, PA/Salesianum School [DE]).  

Fatzinger moved up to second on Abbatiello's wild pitch, giving FDU runners at second and third and one out.  Sprague sent a slow grounder to Mazzio at third. The second-year Seahawk fired a strike to freshman Phil Capra (North Salem, NY/North Salem), who tagged Alleyne trying to slide home.  

On a 0-2 pitch from Abbatiello, Romano connected single down the right field line, scoring Sprague and Fatzinger before moving up to second after an interference call.  The Knights tacked on two more on Giakas two-run homer to left as the Knights capped off the late inning rally. 

Cala singled with one-out for Wagner in the bottom of the ninth bure Zeller was able to end the game on back-to-back strikeouts of pinch-hitters Anthony Pecora (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) and Joe Silvestrone (Manalapan, NJ/Freehold Township).

The Seahawks will conclude its 10-game homestand on Wednesday, May 4 as they welcome the Manhattan College Jaspers of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).  Wednesday contest is set for a 6:00 p.m. start at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. 

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