Lakewood, NJ – Wagner starter Ryan Lauk matched his career-high with 10 strikeouts over six innings of work, but a four-run top of the 12th by LIU proved to be the difference as the Seahawks drop the series opener, 5-1, on Friday afternoon.
With the loss, Wagner drops to 5-10 overall and 3-7 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play while LIU moves to 9-5 overall and 7-3 in conference action.
Lauk gave up just one run on seven hits while issuing one walk in his sixth start of the season.
Nick Zuppe fired four innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts.
Kevin Wiseman (1-1) was tagged with his first defeat of the year after giving up four runs in the 12th inning. Wiseman came on in the 11th, working a 1-2-3 frame on just nine pitches.
Jared Gillen and
Tyler Sanfilippo each had three hits for the Seahawks with Gillen driving in Wagner's lone run.
Freddy Sabido and
Mike Ruggiero each reached base twice.
LIU's Anthony Warneke, EJ Exposito, and Colin Adams had two hits apiece with Warneke delivering what turned out to be the go-ahead runs with a bases-clearing double in the 12th. Exposito added two RBI in the win.
Jackson Svete went 6.1 for the Sharks, giving up an unearned run with six strikeouts. Nick Torres didn't give up a run in his two innings of work. Rob Griswold picked up the win after firing 3.2 scoreless frames.
The third inning proved to be Lauk's most dominant of the afternoon, striking out the side on 13 pitches, in which, he posted his sixth strikeout of the day.
Wagner's offense broke through in the bottom half of the inning.
Ethan Valdez reached on a throwing error by the Sharks' shortstop and advanced to second on the overthrow. The Tampa, FL native advanced to third on Sevete's wild pitch.Gillen drove him home with a single to right.
The Stillwell, KS native later stole second and moved to third on the Sharks second error of the inning, but was stranded there to end the threat.
With two on and two outs in the top of the fourth, Lauk managed to escape the potential big inning with his seventh punchout of the day.
The visitors managed to break through with the tying run in the fifth, as Warneke sent a two-out single to right and promptly stole second. Exposito singled to left, bringing in Warneke to tie the game. Lauk skated around some trouble in the sixth with a runner on second and two outs, but, managed to regain his composure on the mound and record his tenth strikeout of the game, fanning Dawson Degnan.
The Seahawks had a chance for the go-ahead run in the seventh.
Jake Lutz led off the inning with a four-pitch walk and Valdez reached on a bunt single.
Henry Martinez reached on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher, as Svete was able to record the out at third. Torres came in for Svete and ended the threat with a strikeout of Gillen.
Zuppe continued his dominant showing with two strikeouts in the top of the ninth and getting Degnan to ground out to third.
Griffin Schneider doubled to right-center to kick off the bottom of the ninth and moved to third on a wild pitch by Torres. The Sharks brought in Griswold, who retired the next two batters, on just two pitches to send the game to extras.
In the top of the 12
th, Carlton Harper, who pinch-hit for Degnan, singled back up the middle. Seth Surrett followed with a base hit to right-center. Cade Biddle drew a walk to load the bases. With the count at 1-1, Warneke was able to rip a double down the right-field line, past a diving Sanfilippo, as all three Sharks came around to score, that made it 4-1. Exposito drove in his second RBI of the game with a single to left-center, as LIU went ahead 5-1.
Wagner had a chance in the bottom of the inning. A pair of one-out singles from Martinez and Gillen gave the Seahawks two men on. Sanfilippo sent a hot shot to third as the Sharks' third baseman raced to the bag for the second out but couldn't complete the double-play as Sanfilippo just beat the throw. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch from Griswold. Sabido worked the count to 2-1 but grounded out to short to end the contest.
These two teams close out the series Saturday with a doubleheader. First-pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
