Pictured Above: Senior RHP Austin Goeke, who pitched 7.2 innings of three-hit baseball tonight against CCSU in day one of the NEC Tournament (Photo by: Steve McLaughlin Photograph)
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No. 3 Wagner College vs. No. 2 Central Connecticut (Full-Event Archive)
Norwich, CT – The No. 3 seeded Wagner College baseball team wasn't able to hang onto the lead in the bottom of the ninth on the opening day of the 2017 Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament, as No. 2 seeded Central Connecticut State walked off with a 5-4 victory on Friday evening.
With the loss, the Seahawks, who fall to 21-27 on the season, will take on the top-seeded Bryant University Bulldogs, who were bested by the No. 4 seed, Sacred Heart, 3-2, in Friday's opening game. The Green & White and Bulldogs will meet on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
Senior RHP and newly-minted NEC First Teamer,
Austin Goeke (Bordentown, NJ/The Hun School), went 7.2 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, while walking five and striking out eight in taking the no decision. The eight strikeouts gave Goeke 189 for his career, good for sole possession of fifth place on the all-time Seahawk strikeout list. Sophomore LHP
Neil Abbatiello (North Salem, NY/Dobbs Ferry) took the loss (1-5).
At the plate, junior SS
Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) went 4-for-5 with a run scored and a double. Third-year 2B
Kyle Brey (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and added a RBI. Junior LF and NEC First-Team honoree,
Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Freshman designated hitter and All-NEC Second Team choice
Freddy Sabido (Staten Island, NY/Susan E. Wagner [Saint Louis Univ]) and sophomore CF
Joe Silvestrone (Manalapan, NJ/Freehold Township) added two hits with Sabido driving in a run.
Central Connecticut's Mitch Guilmette, who delivered the game-winning two-run RBI single to right, finished 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs. Buddy Dewaine also had two hits and drove in one. Tyler Coleman had a hit in four chances while recording the fifth RBI for the Blue Devils. Austin Salnitis was credited with the win (2-0).
Goeke was working on a no-hit bid that was stopped in the bottom of the fourth when Dewaine looped a two-single to shallow right field. The recently named All-NEC First Teamer was able to strike out Chris Kanios to end the inning.
Wagner got on the board in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Brey reached on an infield single to shortstop. Mazzio singled to center for his third hit of the game, giving the visitors runners on first and second. On a 2-2 pitch, Godino doubled to right field, plating both runners in giving the Seahawks an early 2-0.
Central Connecticut trimmed the Wagner lead to one, 2-1, in the bottom of the sixth. Goeke was able to get the first two Blue Devils batters out. Ryan Costello reached on an infield error by Mazzio and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch from Goeke. Facing a full count, Guilmette laced a double to center, scoring Costello for CCSU's first run of the contest. Goeke closed out the inning by getting Dewaine to ground out to short.
In the Seahawks' half of the seventh, Brey recorded his second hit of the contest with a single through the right side. Mazzio followed with his fourth hit of the game, a single to center field, giving the Green & White runners on first and second. With two outs, Sabido ripped an RBI single, scoring Brey as Wagner went back up, 3-1.
In the top of the eighth, Brey sent a two-out single to right field, scoring Silvestrone, who reached on an infield single to the CCSU shortstop, putting Wagner up 4-1 before Brey was caught stealing second, ending the inning.
Goeke's night was complete with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. He walked Dean Lockery but was able to get Coleman to ground into the 6-4-3 double play. Back-to-back free passes to Costello and Guilmette, forced the Seahawks to go to its bullpen.
The reigning NEC Pitcher of the Week, Abbatiello, came on and gave up a single an RBI single to Dewaine, cutting the Seahawks lead to 4-2. The next batter, Kanios, singled to short, which loaded the bases. Abbatiello was able to induce the inning-ending ground out as Jennings rolled one to Brey at second.
After a scoreless top of the ninth, the Blue Devils plated three in the bottom of the frame en route to the walk-off victory. TT Bowens tripled to center field with one out. A walk to Lockery gave CCSU runners on the corners. Coleman poked a 0-1 single to right field, scoring Bowens and cutting the lead to 4-3. Costello reached on an infield single to short, loading the bases for Guilmette, who sent the Blue Devils home with the 5-4 win.
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