Pictured Above: Senior RF Kyle Cala (Credit: Greg Fencik)
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Brooklyn, NY – The Wagner baseball team led 3-2 before LIU Brooklyn scored five times in the bottom of the sixth inning and held on from there, defeating the Seahawks, 7-3, in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Wagner falls to 32-14 overall and are now in a tie for first place with Bryant at 17-5 in Northeast Conference (NEC) action as the Bulldogs went 1-2 over the weekend in non-conference play, falling twice to Stony Brook (9-1 on Friday and 5-3 on Sunday) before defeating Massachusetts, 8-2 on Saturday. The Blackbirds, who remain in third in the league standings, improve to 24-21 overall and 12-9 in league.
After the conclusion of today's games, Wagner and Bryant are the first two teams to qualify for the upcoming
NEC Tournament, which will commence on May 24 through May 26.
Seniors
Kyle Cala and
Sean Mazzio each had two hits on the afternoon with Cala driving in two of the Seahawks' three runs.
Anthony Godino was credited with the other RBI. Sophomore starter,
Nick Zuppe, worked 3.2 innings, giving up two runs on two hits while striking out two and walking three.
Junior LHP
Keaton Freire (2-2), who came on in relief of Zuppe, took the loss, after going 1.2 innings, surrendering three runs on two hits while walking two and striking out one.
LIU's Baylor LaPointe (3-3) was credited with the win after coming in relief of starter Jackson Svete, who lasted 4.2 innings. Greg Vaughn Jr., led the way for the Blackbirds with three hits while Andrew Turner, Edward Modica and Andrew Smith had two RBIs apiece today's contest.
The Seahawks had a chance in their half of the first, loading the bases with two outs after Mazzio delivered a one out single and junior catcher,
Phil Capra, walked. Sophomore designated hitter,
Freddy Sabido, drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases but the Seahawks couldn't get on the board as a ground out to short that ended the threat.
The Blackbirds capitalized on its first-inning chance in taking a 2-0 lead. With two outs, Turner walked on four straight pitches. Modica worked the count to 2-1 before unleashing a two-run home run over the left field wall, giving LIU the early lead.
After stranding a combined five runners on base In the second and third innings, the Seahawks were able to crack through in the fifth in tying the game at 2-2. Mazzio led off with an infield single to short. With two outs, Sabido drew his second walk of the game. In a six-pitch approach, Cala doubled to left center, scoring both runners.
The Green & White took its only lead of the contest in the top of the sixth. LaPointe was able to retire the first two batters before walking three straight Seahawks to load the bases for Godino. The Thornwood, NY native looked at ball four, which scored Mascelli and gave Wagner the one-run lead at 3-2.
The Blackbirds responded in their half of the sixth, plating five runs in taking a 7-3 lead. LIU sent eight men to the plate, as Vaughn led things off with a single to first and moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt, before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Joe Curcio was hit by a pitch and stole second before both runners came in to score on a Smith double down the left field line, as LIU Brooklyn led 4-3.
Freshman right-hander,
Mike Pirrotta, allowed an RBI single to Anthony Warneke as the Blackbirds went ahead 5-3 and Turner put the game out of reach with the team's second two-run home run of the contest in extrending their lead to 7-3.
The Seahawks will gear up for their final road series of the regular season as they take on Bryant in Smithfield, RI in a battle of the two, first-place teams, beginning on Friday, May 11.
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