Smithfield, RI - The Wagner baseball offense came alive, giving starter Eli Shedd a 9-0 advantage before the Bryant University Bulldogs sparked a seven-run outburst in the bottom of the eighth but the Seahawks were able to thwart the comeback, holding on for 9-7 win on Friday afternoon.
Shedd improved to 3-0 on the season after not allowing a run over his seven innings of work. The second-year Wagner (17-33; 12-14 NEC) starter gave up just two hits, and a walk while matching a career-high eight strikeouts in picking up the win.
Brandon Demma was tagged for seven runs (three earned) in just a third of an inning before Zach Gorman worked the final 1.2 innings, not giving up a run on just one hit to earn his first collegiate save.
Maimu Kobayashi, Mike Ruggiero, Griffin Selby, and Quinn Mimnaugh each had two hits on the afternoon with Selby driving in three of the Seahawks' eight RBIs in the contest. Ruggiero plated home two while Kobayashi, Mimnaugh, and David Melif added an RBI in the victory.
Bryant's Brett Wichrowski (2-2) was tagged with the loss, going three innings in which he walked three, and struck out two while only giving up a run on a hit. Liam LeVangie allowed six runs (three earned) on three hits over 2.1 innings. The combination of Jackson Harrigan, Jack Halburner, John McDonald, and Austin Wainer went the final 3.2 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits while walking three.
Logan Allen paced the Bulldogs (26-25; 16-10 NEC) with three hits. Shane Kelly drove in four of the seven RBIs in the contest while Matt Woods added two RBIs. Jake Gustin was credited with an RBI as well.
The game went scoreless until the top of the third when the Seahawks pushed across the first run of the contest. Melfi led off with a walk and moved to second as the ball trickled to the backstop. The next batter, Xavier Baker, was hit by a pitch, giving the visitors a pair of runners on.
Kobayashi ripped a single through the left side that brought in Melfi as Wagner grabbed the early advantage. The Seahawks threatened for more in the top of the third as Dante Faicchio was intentionally walked to load the bases. Selby and Cody Bey were each retired by Wichrowski to end the inning.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Seahawks' offense came alive, plating across a total of eight runs over the next four innings in building a 9-0 lead. Wagner plated home three in the fifth and sixth before adding a score in the seventh and eighth.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Ruggiero reached on a throwing error by the Bulldogs' third baseman and moved to second on the play. Faicchio reached on the second intentional walk to him on the day, giving Wagner a pair of runners for Selby.
The Santa Ana, CA native didn't miss his pitch, as he connected on his seventh home run of the season, a three-run shot to left-center field as the Seahawks went up 4-0.
In the top of the sixth, Mimnaugh led off with a booming solo home run to left that made it 5-0 as the Hoover, AL connected on his second home run of the year.
Following a one-out walk to Baker, Kobayashi singled through the right side gave Wagner runners on the corner, and put a close to Levangie's afternoon.
Harrigan came on and Ruggiero connected on a two-run single to left field as the Green & White extended its lead to 7-0. The visitors threatened for more but an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play got Bryant out of trouble.
Shedd continued to be dominant on the hill, producing his first 1-2-3 inning of the contest after striking out Lane and Derek Smith looking.
Wagner got a bit of help in plating their eighth run of the contest. Bey led off with a walk before stealing second and third with one out. After a ground out by Mimanaugh, Melfi reached on Bryant's second error of the game, which allowed Bey to score.
In the top of the eighth, Ruggiero sent a one-out triple to right-center before Faicchio popped up to second base. Ruggiero, alertly, came home as Bryant inadvertently tossed the live ball into the dugout, which, after the umpires conferred, upheld Ruggiero's score, making it 9-0.
Shedd had retired eight straight batters before being replaced by Demma to start the bottom of the eight. Bryant was able to cut the deficit to just two runs in the frame, scoring all seven runs on just four hits while capitalizing on two Wagner errors in the inning.
The big blast in the frame came off the bat of Kelly, who cleared the bases on a grand slam to center field that made 9-7. Gorman came on and got the final two outs in the inning, including a strikeout of pinch-hitter Matt Smith.
Gorman came on for the ninth and allowed a leadoff single to Allen before Woods grounded into the 4-6-3 double-play. A walk to Jake Gustin sent the tying run to the plate in the form of Lane, but the freshman reliever was able to get him to fly out to center to preserve the two-run victory.
Wagner closes out the 2022 season tomorrow afternoon against the Bulldogs. First-pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
- Seahawk fans planning to make the trip to Bryant, per Bryant University Athletics, will need to be on campus before the Bulldogs' Commencement Ceremony ending sometime between 12:00-12:30 p.m... The graduation exercise is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
- FROM BRYANT ATHLETICS - Below is a map of satellite lots that fans can park at and walk to Contay Park. /documents/2022/5/16/Graduation_Weekend_Parking.pdf
- Fans may only park in DESIGNATED SPACES ONLY and should not park on the SHOULDER of any roadway to keep clear for emergency vehicles.
