Pictured Above: Junior SS Nick Mascelli recorded his 190th career hit in game one of Friday's doubleheader, moving into sole possession of 10th all-time on Wagner's hit list (Dave Saffran)
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New Britain, CT- The Wagner baseball team saw its season-high six-game win streak end in the first game of Friday's doubleheader, falling to the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils, 2-1.
With the loss, both teams stand at 13-17 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play with the Blue Devils holding the tie-breaker, as CCSU improves to 4-2 against Wagner this season. Overall, the Seahawks fall to 19-31 while CCSU improves to 21-32.
Junior SS
Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) went 2-for-3, scoring the only run for the visitors. In the process, the third-year Seahawk recorded his 190th career hit, moving into sole possession of tenth place on the all-time hits list. Freshman catcher
Phil Capra (North Salem, NY/North Salem) drove in the lone RBI for the Seahawks. Senior RF
Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) extended his hit streak to eight straight games with a double in the top of the sixth inning.
Senior RHP
Mike Adams (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Holy Spirit) went the distance for the Seahawks for the fourth time in his last five starts. Adams (3-7) surrendered five hits, two earned runs, four walks and a strikeout while throwing 92 pitches, 52 for strikes.
Andrew Hickley improved to 8-3 on the year for the Blue Devils after going the full seven innings, giving up six hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out six batters. John Lippincott and Matt Martinez each went 1-for-3 while driving in both of CCSU's two runs.
Both pitchers put up zeros through the first three innings before the Blue Devils struck in their half of the fourth inning. A leadoff walk to Corey Lerche kick-started the threat for the home team. Lerche found his way to third after a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to short. With two outs, Lippincott tripled to center field on a 1-2 pitch to make it 1-0. Martinez followed with a single through the right side to plate Lippincott and gave the Blue Devils a 2-0 advantage.
Wagner was able to cut the deficit in half, 2-1 in the top of the sixth. Mascelli beat out an infield single to short. Following a strikeout of senior CF
Trey Nicosia (State College, PA/State College Area), Ruta doubled down the right field line on the first pitch he saw, giving the Seahawks runners on second and third with only one out.
On a 2-2 pitch, Capra lofted a deep fly to right, which allowed Mascelli to tag up and score Wagner's first run of the contest. The Seahawks had a chance in the top of the seventh. Freshman
Anthony Pecora (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) pinch-hit for junior catcher
Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) and laced a single through the right side facing a full count (3-2). A sacrifice bunt from sophomore 3B
Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE}) moved Pecora to second, but Hinckley was able to retire the final two batters to give Central the victory
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