Pictured Above: Junior CF Joe Silvestrone (Credit: Chris Fisher)
 
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Piscataway, NJ – The Wagner baseball team mustered 11 base hits but couldn't overcome a four-run first inning by Rutgers, and a combined six runs in the fourth and fifth innings by the Scarlet Knights, as the Seahawks dropped an 11-4 decision on Tuesday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the Green & White fall to 3-3 on the season while Rutgers improves to 3-4.

Four Seahawks produced multi-hit performances against the Scarlet Knights in the contest as juniors Joe Silvestrone and Phil Capra, along with sophomore DH Freddy Sabido and senior RF Kyle Cala, each had two hits. Silvestrone, Capra, Cala and senior LF Anthony Godino drove in one run apiece against their counterparts from the Big 10 Conference.

Freshman RHP Pat Gallagher (0-1), one of four newcomers who saw action on the mound this afternoon for Wagner, made his first collegiate start for the Green & White, lasting three innings while giving up seven runs (five earned), seven hits and one walk one while striking out one. Junior LHP Keaton Freire went 1.1 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on just two hits, while walking two and striking out one. Senior LHP Brad Currao and junior LHP Koby Bishop tossed 3.2 scoreless innings, giving up a combined three hits while striking out two.
 
Jawaun Harris led the way for the home team, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a home run and four RBIs in the victory. Carmen Sclafani finished 3-for-4, including a double and a triple, and drove in two, while Kevin Welsh went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
 
On the mound, Kyle Gerace earned the win after working 5.0 innings, giving up seven hits and three runs (two earned), while striking out two without walking a batter. Tevin Murray, Collin Kiernan and Serafino Brito combined to throw three scoreless frames for RU, while striking out three and giving up just three hits.
 
Rutgers got on the board first as Harris delivered a two-run home run down the left field line. With two outs, Chris Folinusz singled to center and moved to second following a Kyle Walker base hit to left. Facing a 1-1 count, Welsh delivered a two-out, two-run double down the left field line as the Scarlet Knights took a 4-0 lead.  RU added a run in the bottom of the third as Harris was able to score before the Seahawks completed the 8-4-3 double-play to end the frame.
 
Trailing 5-0, Wagner got on the board in the top of the fourth. With one out, junior 1B Will Johnson reached on an error by Welsh at short, before moving into scoring position after a successful steal of second. With two men retired, Cala stepped in and belted the second pitch he saw to the deepest part of left center field as Johnson scored easily while Cala made it all the way around to third.
 
In the bottom half of the frame, Rutgers sent seven batters to the plate and added three more runs in taking an 8-1 lead. After Welsh reached on an error by shortstop Sean Mazzio, Sclafani tripled to right center, scoring Welsh. With one out, Mike Nyisztor reached on a fielder's choice to third as Sclafani was thrown out trying to score.
 
A two-out single by Dan DiGeorgio gave the Scarlet Knights runners on first and second before Harris laced a double on the first pitch he saw from Freire, scoring both men as Rutgers extended its lead to 8-1.
 
Wagner cut into the lead with two runs in the fifth as Godino doubled down the left field line, scoring senior 2B Nick Mascelli, who had reached on a single. Capra then drove in the second run with a RBI groundout to third, allowing Sabido to trout in from third, trimming Rutgers' lead to 8-3.
 
The Scarlet Knights answered back with three more scores to go ahead 11-3. Scalfani doubled to left, plating Walker, while Luke Bowerbank reached on an error, which plated home Welsh as RU increased its lead to 10-3. Nyisztor drove Sclafani home with Rutgers' final run of the game on a on a fielder's choice.
 
Wagner plated home the game's final run in the top of the sixth as Mazzio walked to start the inning and advanced to third after a balk and a wild pitch. Following a strikeout of Cala, Silvestrone beat out an infield single to third, scoring Mazzio, making it an 11-4 game.
 
The Seahawks had a chance to further cut into the deficit in the top of the eighth. Mazzio roped a single to right and moved to second when Cala sent a base hit through the left side, giving the visitors runners on first and second and no one out.
 
Rutgers then turned to its bullpen in the form of Kiernan, who got Silvestrone to ground out back to him as he went to third to get the force out of Mazzio. Wagner's threat was stopped as Tyler Sanfillippo, who came on as a pinch-hitter, flied out to right, before Mascelli popped up to second for the game's final out.
 
The Green & White will head south this weekend to Orlando, FL as they gear up to play a three-game series from March 2-4 against the University of Central Florida Knights. 

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