Pictured Above: Senior infielder Kyle Brey 
 

Staten Island, NY  – Winners of three straight, the Northeast Conference (NEC) leading Wagner baseball team resumes league play as the Seahawks welcome the Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights to the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George this weekend.

HOME SWEET HOME: This weekend's series against the Knights marks the first-time the Seahawks are playing on Staten Island at Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, the home of the six-time New York-Penn League champions, the Staten Island Yankees (Short-Season A). Wagner has been playing its home contests at R.C.B Ballpark since 2008 and holds a 128-80 overall record while notching a 87-60 conference-record.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Wagner and Fairleigh Dickinson have met 146 times in program history with the all-time series favoring the Knights at 80-66.  Over the previous six seasons, the Seahawks have posted a 15-11 mark against the Knights. Last season, these two squads split their six-game series, with each team winning at the other's home venue. 

LAST TIME OUT FOR WAGNER: The Wagner baseball team closed out its three-game weekend series at Big East member, Villanova, with a 6-5 win in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.  The Green & White swept the season series from Nova, 4-0, as Wagner took these three meetings, outscoring Villanova, 21-14, in addition to an 8-4 victory back on March 18.  Junior 3B Anthony Pecora and catcher Phil Capra each had three hits in the afternoon's contest with Capra driving in three RBIs to run his team-leading total to 49. The 49 RBIs for Capra are the third-highest single-season total, surpassing the 48 that Vin Avella, and Wagner College Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductee, Gil Barkman, put up in 2009 and 1999, respectively. Next on the list is another Wagner Hall of Fame member, Class of 2016 inductee, Mike Cerminaro, at 56.  Freshman right-hander, Pat Gallagher struck out five while allowing just two walks and two runs over five hits in 4.2 innings in taking the no-decision. Sophomore righty, Nick Robino (6-2), earned his sixth win of the season after not allowing a single hit or run in his 2.2 innings of relief while walking one and striking out three.

SCOUTING THE FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS: Fairleigh Dickinson enters this weekend with 10-24 overall record and are just 1-13 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play. FDU was victorious over Saint Peter's 7-1, on Tuesday, as Brandon Seltzer knocked in two runs to go along with his first collegiate home run. Evan McDonald, who leads the program in most statistical categories this season, finished 2-for-3 in the victory, with two RBIs and a walk. Chris Quijano fired 5.2 innings, allowing one earned run and six hits, while striking out seven in picking up the win.

CAPRA EARNS SECOND NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD: For the second time this season, junior catcher Phil Capra has been named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Baseball Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday afternoon. The North Salem, NY native tabbed his previous weekly citation for the week of March 12, which came on the heels of being named to the 2018 Johnny Bench Award Watch List.  For the season, Wagner has now collected five weekly awards, with Capra's two leading the way. Freshman right-hander Mike Pirrotta was named NEC Pitcher of the Week on April 9 and sophomore designated hitter, Freddy Sabido, was tabbed Player of the Week back on April 2. Following Capra's initial weekly accolade, senior outfielder, Anthony Godino, was named Player of the Week on March 19.  During Wagner's three-game sweep of Big East member, Villanova, this past weekend, Capra put on a power display, with three home runs and 10 RBI. He recorded three-hit performances in all three games, while slugging 1.400 and driving in 10 of the Seahawks 21 runs. In total, the North Salem, NY native posted a total OPS (on-base slugging percentage) of 2.025.

SEAHAWK BASEBALL ALUMS IN PROFESSIONAL BALL:

• To see how our alumni are faring in the minors, READ HERE

• Now ranks ninth on the all-time games played list with 188 and is seventh in games started (Leader: Nick Dini | 215 games played | 215 games started)
• Ranks fourth all-time with 735 career at-bats (Leader: Nick Dini | 793)
• Ranks third all-time in career runs scored with 144. (Leader: Damian Csakai | 163)
• Ranks third all-time in career hits with 231 (Leader: Nick Dini | 245)

• Sixth on the all-time saves list with seven (Leader: Andrew Huebner: 25). 

• Tied for eighth on the all-time triples list with Brian Martutartus (2008-10) and John Von Ahnen (1982-85) with seven triples.

• Tied for 14th on the all-time home run list with Kevin McDonnell (2007-11) with 11 home runs.

• 10th on the all-time games played list with 184
• 8th on the all-time games started list with 181
• 12th on the all-time hits list with 180

• Tied for 8th on the all-time career home run list with  John Spinelli ('00) with 22 (Leader: Vin Avella | 50)
• 5th on the all-time career RBIs list with 129 (Leader: Vin Avella | 165)
• Tied for 14th on all-time career walks list with 66 with Chris Smith (2012-14) [Leader: Mike Venezia (129)].

• Tied for 11th on the all-time career triples list with 6 (Leader: Nick Papa | 13)
• Tied for 12th on the all-time home runs list with 12

• 13th on the all-time career hits list with 178
• 6th on the all-time career doubles list with 41 (Leader: Mike Cerminaro | 66)
• Tied for 11th on the all-time career triples list with 6
• Tied for 12th on the all-time home runs list with 12
• 8th on the all-time career RBI list with 116
• 2nd on the all-time career walks list with 102 (Leader: Mike Venezia | 129)
• 7th on the all-time career stolen base list with 45 (Leader: Damian Csakai | 132)

• As of April 25, Wagner is the highest-ranked Northeast Conference (NEC) program, checking in at No. 70. 
• The next closest NEC team ranked is Bryant at 96, followed by LIU Brooklyn at 247.

• As a team, the Seahawks are ranked 49th in the nation  and second in the NEC in doubles per game at 1.97
• Wagner is 59th in the NCAA and first in the NEC in stolen bases with 54.
• The Seahawks rank first in the NEC in the following statistical categories: hits allowed per nine innings (9.19), stolen bases (54), stolen bases per game (1.42) 
• Individually, juniors Neil Abbatiello and Eric Ligda are both ranked 15th in the nation and first in the conference with 10 games started
• Capra leads the NEC and is 11th in the country in RBIs with 49. He is also among the top-50 in slugging percentage at .646.
• Senior infielder Nick Mascelli ranks 11th in the country in runs scored per game at 1.19 and among the top-40 among totals runs scored with 43.

• The Seahawks will make the short trip across the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn as they will square off against the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds, in a four-game series beginning on May 4.