Trenton, NJ - Following a split of its midweek contests, the Wagner College baseball team returns to Trenton Thunder Ballpark this weekend as Northeast Conference (NEC) play resumes with the Seahawks playing host to the Sacred Heart University Pioneers. 

---

Probable Pitching Matchup...
Friday, April 8, 2022 | 3:00 PM
Wagner - RHP Frankie Wright (2-3; 7.67 ERA | 29.1 IP, 12 BB, 25 K) 
Sacred Heart - LHP Chase Jeter (1-4; 6.75 ERA | 30.2 IP, 12 BB, 26 K)

Saturday, April 9, 2022 | 1:00 PM
Wagner - RHP Daniel Merkel (0-4; 4.97 ERA | 29.0 IP, 22 BB, 16 K) 
Sacred Heart -  RHP Ryan LaMay (1-4; 7.94 ERA | 28.1 IP, 10 BB, 14 K) 

Sunday, April 10, 2022 | 1:00 PM
Wagner - RHP Connor Hayden (0-4; 9.78 ERA | 19.1 IP, 14 BB, 13 K) 
Sacred Heart - RHP Jake Babuschak (0-4; 6.75 ERA | 33.1 IP, 14 BB, 19 K)

---

SCHOOL	NEC	PCT	OVERALL	PCT	STREAK
Central Connecticut	4-2	.667	11-8	.579	L1
FDU	4-2	.667	11-17	.393	W1
LIU	3-3	.500	17-11	.607	W2
Bryant	3-3	.500	11-14	.440	W1
Merrimack	3-3	.500	8-15-1	.354	L2
Sacred Heart	3-3	.500	4-23	.148	L1
Mount St. Mary's	2-4	.333	7-16	.304	W3
Wagner	2-4	.333	5-22	.185	L1

 

---

Last Time Out...

• Following a change to the schedule, Wagner traveled to Columbia on Wednesday afternoon. 
• For the first time in 19 years, the Seahawks and the Lions matched up. 
• The Seahawks cut into a 4-0 Columbia lead with two runs in their half of the fifth before the Lions scored four times in the bottom of the inning and added two more in the sixth in picking up a 10-2 victory. 
• Maimu Kobayashi, who has reached safely in 15 straight games, went 2 for 4 at the plate. Xavier Baker went 1 for 2 while driving in both of Wagner's runs. 

All-Time Against Sacred Heart...

• Wagner and Sacred Heart have met 84 times in program history with the Pioneers holding a 43-41 edge in the head-to-head series. 
• The Seahawks are looking to halt a two-game losing streak to the Pioneers with the last win by Wagner coming back on May 20, 2021, a 9-7 triumph in 17 innings. 
  • Mike Ruggiero went 3 for 9 with three RBI in that contest. 
  • David Melif was 2 for 7 with a run scored.
  • Ethan Valdez added a hit while Cody Bey drew three walks in the contest. 
  • On the mound, Mike Pirrotta threw 3.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out a career-high eight batters. 
  • John LaPointe tossed 4.1 scoreless innings in which he gave up just two hits while walking three and striking out seven batters. 
  • For Sacred Heart, Chase Jeter, Friday's probable starter, allowed six runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out two Seahawks. 
• Wagner is 4-6 in their ten meetings against Sacred Heart. 
• The Seahawks are 21-19 in home contests against the Pioneers. 

Seahawk Tidbits... 

• Maimu Kobayashi leads the team with a .326 batting average, which is ninth in the Northeast Conference.
  • The first-year Seahawk ranks second in the conference with 25 runs scored and third in on-base percentage at .464.
• Kobayashi and Dante Faicchio have reached base safely in 15 straight games while Lukas Torres is next, having reached safely in 11 consecutive games. 
  • Torres has a team-leading eight-game hitting streak entering the weekend. 
• Faicchio is third in the league in RBIs with 24 while tied for third with CCSU's Noah Martinez with six home runs. 
  • The first-year Seahawk is currently tied for 17th on the single-season list with six home runs, joining Freddy Sabido (2018 & 2019), Anthony Pecora (2019), and Nick Mascelli (2018)
  • The next home run by Faicchio will elevate him to a tie for 13th on the list, joining former Seahawks Phil Capra (2017), Anthony Godino (2017), Nick Dini (2015), and Vin Avella (2007). 
• Mike Ruggiero is one hit away from becoming the 64th player in Wagner history to join the 100-hit club. 
  • The last Seahawk to join was Tyler Sanfilippo, who finished his Seahawk tenure with 101 career hits. 
• Wagner ranks 14th in the nation in Toughest Schedule as their past opponents have put up a combined record of 241-141 (.631)

About Sacred Heart...

• Sacred Heart enters play with a 4-23 overall record and 3-3 mark in league contests. 
• The Pioneers are looking to bounce back after dropping a 6-3 decision at home to Hartford on Tuesday afternoon. 
• Against the Hawks, Mark Smith led the way with two hits with Joe Emerson, Steven Schoen, and Tyler Galletti adding an RBI in the contest. 
• Justin Jordan leads the team with a .352 batting average while Sam Mongelli has a team-high four home runs. 
• Emerson has driven in a team-leading 17 RBI while Ryan Donnelly leads the team with nine stolen bases. 
• On the hill, Charlie Costello and Michaell Attonito have made 12 appearances while Costello and David Aufiero have a save each. 
• Chase Jeter leads the Pioneers' arms with 26 strikeouts while Tyler Briggs has allowed opponents to hit just .105 against his in 6.1 innings. 

On Deck For Wagner...

• The Seahawks will travel to Brookville to tangle with LIU. 
• The three-game set is slated to begin on Thursday, April 14, and run through Saturday, April 16 
• Baseball will host a pair of midweeks games, beginning on Tuesday, April 5 as the Seahawks welcome Saint Peter's University to Trenton, NJ at Trenton Thunder Ballpark before heading to Lakewood, NJ to take on Hofstra at ShoreTown Ballpark on Wednesday, April 6. 
• Both games will start at 3:30 p.m.