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Johnson City, TN - Down 3-0 early on against Ohio, the Wagner College baseball team was able to stage a late comeback in the eighth to tie the score at 3-3 before junior Mike Ruggiero drew what turned out to be the go-ahead score in the ninth as the Seahawks defeated the Bobcats, 4-3, to close out play at the East Tennessee State University Baseball Tournament on Sunday afternoon. 

The Basics:

• Records - Wagner (6-7) | Ohio (3-10) 
• Series History - Wagner 1, Ohio 0

Freshman Cody Bey was one of three Seahawks to have a multi-hit day. Bey finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and drove in an RBI. Fellow newcomers, Henry Martinez and David Melfi, each had two hits with Melfi adding an RBI. Senior Alex Cimaroli notched his first career RBI after coming on as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.  

Wagner left-hander Brandon Demma earned his first career win after throwing three scoreless innings in which he only gave up three hits in relief of starter McCae Allen, who went five frames and struck out a career-high 11 batters. Senior Nick Zuppe picked up the save, the first of his career. 

Isaiah Peterson and Dan McCauley each had two hits for Ohio with McCauley accounting for all three RBI for the Bobcats. Ohio used three pitchers this afternoon, each going three innings as Brett Manis was tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out three. 
 

How It Happened:
Allen struck out the side in the first and opened the second with a strikeout before Ohio was able to score the game's first runs. Trevor Lukkes singled to left and the next batter, Trevor Hafner, drew a walk. McCauley cleared the bases on a three-run home run to right-center.  

Wagner quickly responded in the third. Martinez led off with a single and came into score on a double down the left-field line from Bey. A walk to Freddy Sabido continued the scoring threat before reigning co-Northeast Conference (NEC) Player of the Week, Griffin Schneider, lined out to short for the first out of the inning. 

Senior Tyler Sanfilippo drew a walk to load the bases while Melfi followed suit as the Seahawks trimmed the Bobcats lead to one, 3-2. The Staten Island contingent nearly tied the score following a wild pitch, but Sabido was called out at the plate. Wagner reloaded the bases but the Seahawks would have to wait for the tying-run as a grounder to short put a halt to the Seahawk threat. 

The Seahawks and Bobcats traded zeroes until the top of the eighth when Wagner scored the tying run. Melfi led off with a single back up-the-middle. Ruggiero reached on a fielder's choice to second. Cimaroli was summoned to hit for AJ Medrano and came through for the Seahawks, as he lofted a deep fly to center field as Ruggiero tagged up and scored in making it a 3-3 contest. 

In the ninth, Bey got his third hit of the day by reaching on an infield single to short. Sabido was hit by a pitch that gave Wagner a pair of runners. Following Schneider's fly out, both Bey and Sabido completed the double steal while Sanfilippo walked to load the bases. With two outs, Ruggiero reached first on the second walk of the inning, but this one proved to be the difference-maker. 

Ohio had a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth. Devonte Washington was hit by a pitch and Treyben Funderburg walked. Wagner went to the bullpen as Zuppe came on for Demma. 
Peterson sent a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Melfi but was able to reach first safely which loaded the bases for the Bobcats. 

Zuppe settled down to strike out Aaron Levy before getting Lukkes to pop out Melfi for the second out. Zuppe would fall behind Hafner but battled back in getting him to swing over the top for the final out. 

Up Next:

• The Seahawks return home but will have a quick turnaround as they are scheduled to play Fordham on Tuesday afternoon from Houlihan Park.
• First-pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN + ($$). Live stats will also be available for this contest

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