Smithfield, RI – Bryant broke a 1-1 tie with five runs in the bottom of the sixth and added six more in the eighth as the Wagner baseball team dropped the series opener, 12-1, on Friday afternoon from Contay Park.
 
The Seahawks fall to 4-8 on the year and 2-5 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play with the loss, while the Bulldogs move to 9-7-1 on the season and remain perfect in league play (7-0).
 
Freddy Sabido reached a career milestone in Friday's series opener, as his single through the right side in the top of the first made the Staten Island, NY native just the 13th Seahawk in program history to reach 200 career hits.
 

With his single through the right side in the top of the first inning, Freddy Sabido became the 13th Seahawk in program history to reach 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ hits!

Congratulations, Freddy! pic.twitter.com/8LFrUpEJMT

— Wagner Baseball (@WagBaseball) April 1, 2021

 
Wagner Baseball 200-Hit Club

*-players in italics represent those players coached by head coach Jim Carone*
 
Jared Gillen continued his hot hitting from the plate, leading the way for the visitors with two hits. Ethan Valdez also added a base hit with Tyler Sanfilippo driving in the lone run for the Seahawks.
 
Ryan Lauk (1-3) went 5.1 innings, allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits while walking three and striking out seven batters. For Lauk, it marked the fifth straight start in which he has recorded at least four strikeouts.
 
Bryant's Tyler Mattison (4-2) didn't allow an earned run over eight innings of work in picking up the win. Five Bulldogs each had two hits on the day with Matt Woods driving in a team-high three runs.

With two outs in the top of the first, Sabido stepped up to the plate and delivered the milestone hit, sending a single through the right side that gave Wagner runners on the corners.

 

Mid-1 || Wagner 0, Bryant 0

AND THERE IT IS... Freddy Sabido becomes the 13th member of the 200-hit #DYJ x #NECBASE pic.twitter.com/vXAtw9uZe4

— Wagner Baseball (@WagBaseball) April 1, 2021

 
The Seahawks broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third. Henry Martinez reached on a fielding error by the Bulldogs' third baseman and promptly stole second. Gillen reached on Matt Woods' second mishap of the frame, which allowed both Martinez and Gillen to move into scoring position. Sanfilippo then lofted a deep fly to centerfield that brought in Martinez and gave Wagner a 1-0 lead.

Mid-3 || Wagner 1, Bryant 0

Sanfilippo plates Valdez with the sac fly.#DYJ x #NECBASE pic.twitter.com/uz2QPwqHYm

— Wagner Baseball (@WagBaseball) April 1, 2021

 
The Bulldogs evened the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth as Tommy Ditullio brought in Liam McGill on an RBI grounder to third.
 
Bryant pushed across five runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth in taking a 6-1 lead. Brandon Taylor doubled to right-center that plated Damaurys Rodriguez and closed out Lauk's afternoon.
 
Justin Beyer came on for Lauk. Woods was the first batter to greet Beyer as he sent a three-run home run over the right-field wall as Bryant went ahead, 5-1. Four batters later, McGill lined out to left, which plated home the fifth run of the frame.
 
The Bulldogs increased their lead with six runs in the bottom of the eighth. Jake Gustin and Vincenzo Castronovo each delivered two-run homers in the stanza while Derek Smith sent an RBI single to center and Woods scored his third run of the game on a misplay by Wagner's shortstop.
 
The series continues on Friday afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. start from Contay Park.