Smithfield, RI - The Wagner baseball team heads back on the road, traveling to Smithfield, RI to face the Bryant University Bulldogs for three games, beginning on Thursday, April 1 and running through Saturday, April 3.
Last Time Out For Both Teams...
- Wagner will look to snap a three-game losing streak after dropping both games of its series finale against Sacred Heart last Saturday.
- Bryant moved to 6-0 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play after taking both games of their twinbill back on March 27 at Mount St. Mary's (Game 1 - Won, 7-2 | Game 2 - Won, 13-4)
Seahawks On The Mound...
- Ryan Lauk (1-2, 3.00) leads the Wagner hurlers with 27 strikeouts this season, good for fifth in the conference. The Mullica Hill, NJ native has struck out at least four batters in each of his starts this season, highlighted by a season-best nine strikeouts against Sacred Heart back on March 26. Lauk ranks fourth in the NEC, holding opposing batters to a .182 batting average.
- Josh Casado leads the league in opposing batting average, as the opposition is hitting a microscopic .119 against the right-hander. The West New York, NJ native ranks among the top-15 in strikeouts (18).
- Pat Gallagher struck out a season-best six batters in game two of last Saturday's doubleheader against Sacred Heart.
- In relief, Kevin Wiseman and Nick Zuppe have combined for 25 of Wagner's 53 strikeouts out of the bullpen.
- Wiseman leads the Seahawks with three saves.
- Newcomer Nicholas Hanson has limited batters to just a .167 batting average in his three appearances.
Wagner At The Plate...
- Jared Gillen is the team's leading hitter, batting a robust .465 (20 for 43) with eight runs scored a team-best 12 RBI. The Stillwell, KS native ranks second in the conference in hitting, only training Bryant's Liam McGill (.475) and is ranked 11th in the nation in batting average.
- Gillen ranks among the top-ten in several other NEC statistical categories: batting average (2nd - .465); slugging percentage (8th - .581), on-base percentage (3rd - .490), hits (T-2nd - 20), RBI (T-6th - 12) and stolen bases (3rd - 6).
- Through 11 games, Gillen leads the Seahawks with seven multi-hit performances and four multi-RBI games.
- Mike Ruggiero is the team's second leading slugger, batting .385 (15 for 39), which is third in the conference behind McGill and his teammate, Jared Gillen.
- The Smithtown, NY native is fourth in the league in on-base percentage at .478.
- In the field, Ruggiero is tied for fifth with six double plays turned this season, and has 28 assists.
- As a whole, Wagner is third in the NEC in batting average (.276), slugging percentage (.399) and fourth in on-base percentage (.376).
Against Bryant...
- The Seahawks trail in the all-time series, 32-13.
- 39 of the 45 all-time meetings between the two squads have been decided by four runs or less, which includes 13 of the last 14 games.
- Wagner and Bryant have met in the NEC Tournament in four of the last six seasons.
About The Bulldogs...
- Bryant enters play at 8-7-1 overall and 6-0 in league tilts after completing a three-game sweep of Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, MD.
- The Bulldogs lead the league in batting (.296) as well as runs scored (113), hits (163), RBI (99), and home runs (15).
- Bryant's pitchers have pitched to the tune of a 3.23 ERA, tops in the circuit, while recording a league-high 135 strikeouts.
- Liam McGill leads the league in batting average (.475), slugging percentage (.724), on-base percentage (.552), hits (29), and RBI (23).
- Veteran Bulldog James Ciliento has scored the most runs (16) and is tied for the home run lead with his teammate, Liam McGill, with four.
- On the mound, Tyler Schoff and Kevin Gould are second and third, respectively, in ERA, with Schoff posting a 1.67 ERA and Gould 1.80.
- Schoff paces the NEC with 32 strikeouts while teammate, Tyler Mattison, is third with 28.
Seahawk Tidbits...
- Veteran Seahawk slugger, Freddy Sabido, needs just one hit to become the 13th member of the 200-career hit club. The Staten Island, NY native recorded three hits in the three-game series against Sacred Heart last weekend.
| Player |
Career Hits |
| 1. Nick Mascelli (2014-18) |
252 |
| 2. Nick Dini (2012-15) |
245 |
| 3. Damian Csakai (2007-10) |
235 |
| 4. Vin Avelia (2007-10) |
229 |
| 5. Joseph DiGeronimo (2004-07) |
219 |
| 6. Mike Cerminaro (1998-01) |
214 |
| 7. Seth Boyd (2008-11) |
212 |
| 8. Sean Mazzio (2015-18) |
204 |
| 9. Kevin McDonnell (2007-11) |
203 |
| 10. Matt Mastrianni (2004-07) |
202 |
| 11. Nick Papa (2003-06) |
201 |
| Chris Dick (2000-04) |
201 |
* - players in italics represent those players coached by Jim Carone*
- Gillen went .583 in the three games against the Pioneers, finishing with seven hits, two runs scored and two RBI.
- David Melfi, who clubbed .455 against the Pios, hit his first home run of the season.
Wagner Alums In Professional Baseball...
- The Wagner baseball program has six alums (four players; two coaches) represented across six different Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations.
On Deck...
- Wagner welcomes LIU to FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, NJ for a three-game series, which begins on Friday, April 9
