Picture Above: Junior outfielder Joe Silvestrone (Credit: Greg Fencik)
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Brooklyn, NY – Trailing 6-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Wagner baseball team scored six runs over the next three innings, which included what turned out to be the game-winner off junior outfielder
Joe Silvestrone's RBI single as the Seahawks posted a 8-6 come-from-behind victory at MCU Park on Saturday evening.
With the win, Wagner extends its winning streak to eight straight games, improving to 11-8 on the season while earning its first Northeast Conference (NEC) victory of the season (1-0). Bryant saw its three-game win snapped in falling to 7-11 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Junior catcher
Phil Capra went 2-for-3 on the night with two walks. Senior RF
Kyle Cala was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and drew three walks in the victory tonight. Junior 1B
Will Johnson also scored twice in the win. Seniors
Nick Mascelli,
Sean Mazzio,
Anthony Godino along with juniors
Anthony Pecora, Silvestrone and sophomore DH
Freddy Sabido, each drove in an RBI on the evening.
Junior right-hander
Eric Ligda made his sixth start of the season, lasting five innings, while giving up a season-high six earned runs, walking four and fanning five batters, marking the second straight outing he has struck out at least five. Freshman
Pat Gallagher came on in relief of Ligda, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings in earning his first win of the season (1-2) while scattering just four hits in his outing. Sophomore RHP
Nick Robino came on to toss the final 1.1 frames in earning the save (1), the second of his career.
Bryant jumped out to an early 4-0 lead as Mickey Gasper smashed a two-run home run over the right field fence in giving the visitors an early two-run lead. Following a pair of walks to Shane Kelly and Nick Angelini, Gaby Cruz helped tack on two more tallies on a first-pitch double to right field.
Wagner cut the deficit in half at 4-2. Cala drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a double to left center field from Johnson. On a 1-0 pitch, Pecora rolled a grounder to short that allowed Cala to cross the plate for the Seahawks' first run. After Johnson moved up on a ground out from Silvestrone, Mascelli was able to reach on a throwing error by the Bryant shortstop, allowing Johnson to score.
A pair of RBI singles helped increase Bryant's lead to 6-2, as Ryan Ward singled to bring in Sam Owens in the fourth with two outs and Shane Kelly sent a RBI base hit to center, bringing in Gasper in the top of the fifth.
The Green & White began their comeback as Sabido doubled to left, scoring Mazzio, which trimmed Bryant's lead to 6-3. Following a pitching change in the bottom of the sixth, Pecora led off with a walk and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt from Tyler Mattison. Mascelli was then able to rip a 2-0 single back up the middle in scoring Pecora and bringing Wagner to within two, 6-4.
Following a groundout to first off the bat of Mazzio, Capra drew a walk, which brought up Godino. Godino reached on a throwing error from Mattison, as Capra moved to third while Mascelli came across to score, as the Seahawks found themselves trailing by one, 6-5.
After the side was retired in order in the top half of the seventh, Wagner capitalized on two Bryant mishaps in the bottom of the frame, in scoring three times, going ahead 8-6.
A free pass commenced the inning. The next hitter, Johnson, reached on a fielding error by Mattison. Pecora advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt but it was Silvestrone's at-bat that sealed the victory. Facing a 0-2 count, the third-year center fielder singled in Cala and Johnson moved up to third before being waved home after Bryant's right fielder bobbled the ball before throwing it back into the infield. Mazzio added the final run on a RBI single through the left side, which scored Silvestrone for the game's final run.
Bryant starter Jack Patterson, who also went five innings, giving up five hits, three runs (two earned) while walking four and striking out five, didn't factor into the decision. Mattison, who relieved Patterson in the sixth, took the loss (1-1), giving up five runs (one earned) in his two innings of work, as he also walked four Seahawk batters while recording three strikeouts. Ward, James Ciliento and Gasper each had multiple hits for the visitors with Ward and Ciliento each recording three hits in the contest. Gasper and Gaby Cruz drove in a pair in defeat.
Wagner and Bryant will be back on the diamond on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. as these teams wrap up their three-game series with a doubleheader. Both games will be nine innings.
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