Pictured Above: Freshman catcher Johnny Kampes awaiting to apply the tag on USD's Ripken Reyes (Credit: David Cohen)
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San Diego, CA – The Wagner College baseball team was defeated, 14-0, by the University of San Diego (USD) Toreros on Friday night at Fowler Park in the season opener for both squads, which also marked the first-ever meeting between the Seahawks and the Toreros.
Wagner (0-1) was limited to one hit in the contest, which came in the second inning off the bat of sophomore outfielder,
Emil Matti. Senior lefthander,
Neil Abbatiello, took the loss in the contest, his first since May 26, 2017 (vs. Central Connecticut), as the North Salem, NY native lasted four innings. He gave up three earned runs on five hits while issuing two walks and striking out a pair.
USD's Chris Murphy earned the win, going five innings while giving up the one hit, walking five and striking out six batters. The Toreros bullpen, comprised of three relievers, didn't allow a hit over the final four frames. At the plate for USD, Cody Jefferis led the way with three hits, while Adam Kerner, who went 2-for-5 at the plate, scored a game-high three runs. Ripken Reyes, Shane McGuire and Chris McCready combined to go 4-for-11 at the dish while the trio drove in seven runs, led by Reyes, who drove in a team-high three in the victory.
Following a scoreless opening inning, the Seahawks had a two-out opportunity in the top of the second. Senior 3B
Will Johnson drew a walk and moved to third after Matti delivered the first hit of the 2019 season for the Seahawks, a first-pitch rocket down the left field line that was deemed a ground-rule double. The potential scoring threat was squandered, however, as freshman catcher,
Johnny Kampes, lined out to short ending the threat.
San Diego got on the board first in the bottom of the inning, as Reyes tripled to center scoring a pair and came around to score on a McCready single that gave USD an early 3-0 advantage. USD threaten again in the bottom of the fourth but sophomore 2B
Mike Ruggiero kept Wagner within three after he alertly fired home to freshman catcher,
Johnny Kampes, who was able to stop Reyes in his path at the plate.
USD tacked on three more in the bottom of the fifth in extending its lead to 6-0 after McGuire connected on a two-run single to right field. Reyes added his third RBI of the contest, as he plated McGuire after grounding out to short.San Diego broke the game open, scoring eight more runs over the three innings in securing its first victory of the season.
Wagner and USD will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for game two of this three-game opening weekend set. First-pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. (PST) [4:00 p.m. EST].
Notes:
- Newcomer Shamus Connolly appeared as a pinch-hitter in the top of the ninth
- Tonight's contest against USD marked the first-ever contest against a member of the West Coast Conference for the Seahawks.
- Tonight's 14-0 setback marks the first time the Green & White have been blanked on Opening Night since the 2016 season (Lost, 6-0, at Longwood, 2/26/16).
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