Pictured Above: Senior Sean Mazzio (Credit: Greg Fencik)

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New Britain, CT – The Wagner baseball resumed Northeast Conference (NEC) action on Thursday afternoon with a 14-3 series-opening victory against the Sacred Heart University Pioneers.

With the victory, the Green & White improves to 13-10 on the season and 3-1 in league play while the Pioneers fall to 5-13 and 1-2 in conference action.

Five Seahawks had two or more hits in the contest, led by sophomore designated hitter Freddy Sabido, who finished 4-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs. Senior SS Sean Mazzio went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a team-leading three RBIs in the victory.

Senior 2B Nick Mascelli, who ended the day 2-for-4 with three runs scored, connected on his third home run of the season and drove in two. Senior RF Kyle Cala and junior CF Joe Silvestrone also plated two RBIs in this afternoon's contest.

Wagner junior left-hander Koby Bishop did not factor in the decision, lasting just 2.1 innings, while giving up one hit, while striking out one and walking four. Fellow southpaw, Keaton Freire, came on in relief of Bishop, earning his first win of the season (1-1), throwing five innings, while scattering ten hits, giving up three earned runs while striking out two and walking one. Freshman RHP Nick LePre closed out the contest, tossing a scoreless 1.2 frames while fanning two batters.

SHU's Cooper Thompson took the loss (1-2), allowing six runs (five earned), while giving up seven hits in 3.1 innings of work. PJ DeFilippo, Bobby Garbuio and Jake Frasca each went 2-for-3 for the Pioneers with Frasca scoring two of the three runs and driving in one.

The Seahawks took an early 1-0 lead in the first. Mascelli started the contest with a ground-rule double to left center field. The next batter, Mazzio, singled back up the middle, scoring Mascelli for the game's first run.

Two innings later, Wagner added a pair of scores in taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the third. With one out, junior catcher Phil Capra doubled to right center and came around to score on a RBI single from senior LF Anthony Godino, who advanced to third on an error. Sabido brought in Godino on a RBI base hit through the right side.

The Seahawks continued their hot approach at the plate, racking up three more runs in the top of the fourth in extending the lead to 6-0. Silvestrone doubled to left and scored as junior 3B Anthony Pecora laced a triple to the deepest part of right center field. Mascelli walked which concluded Thompson's day. As Jackson Aldam checked into the contest, Mascelli stole second. Mazzio provided his third RBI of the contest, driving in both runners on a double to right center.

The Pioneers were able to halt the Green & White's momentum, scoring twice in the bottom half of the fourth, in cutting the deficit to 6-2. Elijah Brown led off with a bunt single and scored on a double to right center off the bat of Frasca. With two men retired, Cody Doyle singled to left field, which scored Frasca from third.

Following a scoreless fifth inning, Wagner proceeded to open the lead up further, erupting for five runs on three hits as the visitors took a commanding 11-2 lead. Pecora was hit by a pitch, giving the Seahawks a leadoff runner. Mascelli then clobbered his third home run of the season, a two-run round-tripper to left field that propelled the lead to 8-2. A single from Mazzio plus a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Wagner.

The ninth run of the game came in the form of a wild pitch as Mazzio crossed the plate as Cala and Capra each moved up a base. Junior 1B Will Johnson drew a walk to reload the bases and Silvestrone was able to find space on the left side of the infield, sending a two-run single that plated both Cala and Capra in extending the lead to 11-2.

The Seahawks continued their scoring prowess with three more in the top of the seventh as Wagner now led 14-2. A pair of walks around a flyout gave the visitors runners on first and second and one out. Sabido worked the count to 2-1 and belted a ground-rule double to center field, scoring Mazzio.

Cala, on a 0-1 pitch, mirrored Sabido, with a ground-rule double of his own that hopped the left center field wall, scoring both Godino and Sabido as Wagner increased its lead to 11. Sacred Heart scored the final run of the contest in the bottom of the eighth as Anthony Capozziello sent a RBI double to left center field, scoring Frasca.

These two teams will be back in action on Friday, March 30 at 1:00 p.m. from CCSU Baseball Field.

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