Pictured Above: Senior 2B Nick Mascelli, who connected on his first home run of the season (Credit: Greg Fencik)
 
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Orlando, FL – The Wagner baseball team took a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth inning at No. 23-ranked University of Central Florida (UCF) but the Knights mounted a late comeback in the final frame, scoring four times which included the game-winning three-run home run off the bat of Rylan Thomas as UCF edged the Seahawks, 6-3, on Friday evening.
 
The Green & White fall to 3-4 on the season while the Knights improve to 6-3. These two clubs will square off again on Saturday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. from John Euliano Park.
 
For the third straight start, LHP Neil Abbatiello recorded five or more strikeouts, fanning five Knights over 5.1 innings of work while giving up four hits (all singles), two earned runs and issuing three walks in taking the no-decision. 
 
Right-handed sophomore reliever, Nick Robino, gave up just one hit and two earned runs while walking two and striking out four in taking his first loss of the season (2-1). Newcomer Koby Bishop allowed two hits, two runs (both earned), which include the eventual game-winning round-tripper in the bottom of the ninth.
 
At the plate, senior 2B Nick Mascelli paved the way for the Seahawk offense, finishing the evening 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double, a home run and driving in two of the three runs for Wagner. Fellow classmate SS Sean Mazzio, RF Kyle Cala, and junior 3B Anthony Pecora each added a hit for the visitors. Third-year Seahawk CF Joe Silvestrone was credited with the other RBI in the contest.
 
Dallas Beaver and Brandon Hernandez each had a pair of multi-hits in the contest, while Thomas was the hero for the No. 23 ranked Knights, going 1-for-3 with two runs scored and driving in four of the six UCF runs.
 
Starter Chris Williams lasted five innings while giving up an earned run, three hits, walking two and striking out five as he also didn't factor into the decision. Garrett Westberg worked a scoreless ninth while recording a strikeout in earning the victory (1-0).
 
After both teams went scoreless over the first two innings, the visiting Seahawks scored the game's first run in the top of the third. Mascelli stepped in with two outs and worked the count in his favor (3-1). The next pitch that the Clifton, NJ native saw, he put a good swing on the ball and sent it clear over the left field wall for his first home run of the 2018 campaign.
 
For Mascelli, it marked his first round-tripper since March 25, 2016, when he went deep in game one of a doubleheader against Northeast Conference (NEC) member, Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, MD.
 
UCF tied the score at one in the bottom of the frame. Following back-to-back base knocks from Griffin Bernardo and Hernandez, Abbatiello was able to settle in and get Ray Alejo swinging for the first out. Beaver was able to send a single to left, loading the bases for Thomas, who worked the count full and sent a sacrifice fly to center as Bernardo crossed the plate.
 
The game remained tied until the Knights broke through in the bottom of the sixth in taking a 2-1 lead. A pair of walks around a strikeout of Tyler Osik marked the end of Abbatiello's evening. Robino came on and loaded the bases with a walk of Dalton Wingo. Chandler Robertson lofted a high-fly to left field that was caught by senior Anthony Godino but Thomas was able to tag-up and come across in giving UCF a 2-1 lead.
 
The Seahawks regained the lead in the top of the seventh. Junior 1B Will Johnson reached on an error by the Knights' shortstop and Cala gave Wagner runners in scoring position with a double to left center as Johnson moved to third.
 
Silvestrone ripped a screaming liner that was destined to find space but UCF's right fielder, Wingo, was able to making a diving snag and alertly fire the ball back into the infield as Johnson scored on the play. UCF's coaching staff appealed that Cala left second early and the umpires called him out.
 
Following a walk and steal of second by Pecora, Mascelli, who was down in the count 0-2, ripped a two-base hit to left field, plating across Pecora as Wagner took its first lead since the top of the third at 3-2.
Robino worked a scoreless seventh and eighth, putting Wagner in position to win the contest, which would have been its first against a ranked opponent since defeating then ranked No. 22 St. John's back on April 9, 2008.
 
Robertson was plunked by an errant Robino pitch to start off the bottom of the ninth. Max Wood came on to replace Robertson while Jackson Webb pinch-hit for Bernardo. Webb laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Wood to second with now one out.
 
Hernandez came up and singled back up-the-middle, scoring Wood as the game was tied at 3-3. Robino was able to retire Alejo on strikes before head coach Jim Carone made the call to the bullpen for Bishop.
 
Bishop's first-batter, Beaver, singled to right field, giving the home team runners on first and second with just one out, as Thomas stepped up to the plate. Bishop, a southpaw, fell behind in the count 2-0 before Thomas sent the crowd of 1,279 home with a victory.

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