Pictured Above: Sophomore Mike Ruggiero (Credit: David Cohen)
 
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San Diego, CA – Trailing 3-0 heading into the final inning, the Wagner College baseball team pushed across a run and had a chance to tie the game with runners on the corners but the University of San Diego (USD) Toreros stifled the comeback attempt, holding off the Seahawks, 3-1, in game two of Saturday's doubleheader.
 
Sophomore 2B Mike Ruggiero led Wagner (0-3) at the plate, going 3-for-4 while driving in the only run in the contest for the visitors. Seniors Anthony Pecora and Will Johnson each had two hits in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader.
 
Junior RHP Nick Zuppe (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season after lasting five inning in which he gave up three runs on six hits without walking a batter and striking out four batters. Classmate RHP Ryan Lauk made his first appearance since March 24, 2017, throwing a scoreless sixth inning despite surrendering two walks but the Mullica Hill, NJ native did record his first strikeout of the season.
 
Sophomore reliever Kevin Wiseman, a native of Fallbrook, CA, made his season debut in his return to his home state, striking out one and walking in facing four batters. Junior transfer McCae Allen made his Wagner debut in the series finale, throwing a scoreless eighth inning.
 
Tora Otsuka was the offense for the Toreros, finishing 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and driving in all three RBIs in the win for USD. Josh Hendrickson earned his first win of the season, throwing six shutout innings while giving up five hits but struck out five Seahawks. Nate Walker, who struck out four and walked three batters in 2.1 innings, came on in relief of Hendrickson, and allowed the Seahawks run in the ninth. Travis Kuhn was called upon and recorded his first save of the season.
 
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third when Otsuka took the first pitch from Zuppe deep to right field as USD took an early 1-0 lead on Otsuka's first home run of the season. The Toreros leadoff man struck again in the bottom of the fifth, delivering a two-run RBI single that pushed the lead to 3-0.
 
Wagner had momentum on its side heading into the final frame. With one out in the top of the ninth, junior LF Freddy Sabido, who homered in game one, drew a walk. Junior 1B Tyler Sanfillippo followed suit as the Seahawks had runners on first and second, with Johnson due up.
 
USD went to the bullpen in the form of Kuhn to replace Walker. With the count in Johnson's favor, 2-1, the left-handed swinging third baseman ripped a single to left center field, which promptly loaded the bases. Johnson was lifted for a pinch-runner in sophomore Emil Matti, who had the lone hit in the season opener on Friday night.
 
Ruggiero, who went 2-for-3 earlier in the day, sent a single to center, which plated Sabido for Wagner's first run. Seahawk head coach, Jim Carone, elected to send a pinch-hitter in sophomore Ben Montenegro, who had produced three RBIs in game one. Montenegro was retired on three pitches before newcomer Shamus Connolly, who replaced fellow newbie, Alex Cimaroli, grounded out to second to end the ballgame.
 
Wagner travels to Johnson City, TN to square off against East Tennessee State for a three-game set, beginning on Friday, February 22.

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