Raleigh, NC - The Wagner baseball team led 2-0 for a majority of its matchup against N.C. State on Saturday, but a seventh-inning rally by the Wolfpack handed the Seahawks their second loss in as many days, 3-2. 

It was all junior Julian Taudin-Chabot early on. The transfer from Everett Community College shined in his Wagner debut, hurling five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out eight batters.

In the top of the third inning, the Seahawks broke the scoreless tie as senior Maimu Kobayashi sent a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence for Wagner's first home run and lead of the 2023 campaign.

Senior Dante Faicchio ripped a double into the left-center gap to bring around junior Chris Conniff, who reached on a bunt single. 

In the third inning, a key challenge from head coach Craig Noto ended the Wolfpack's opportunity. Trevor Candelaria was ruled to have leaned into Taudin-Chabot's 2-2 pitch, awarding Wagner's starter with his eighth strikeout and bailing him out of the jam unscathed. 

Three innings later, Bilka ran into trouble in his debut inning. But the freshman induced two consecutive outs to escape the bases loaded situation. 

With Wagner holding a 2-0 lead, N.C. State finally broke through in the ensuing inning, with a failed pickoff attempt from junior Nicholas Hanson bringing in the winning run.

Bilka was charged with the loss. 

Wagner held a 6-5 advantage in hits. Conniff pieced together three hits in his second game as a Seahawk.

The Green & White will finish up their series against N.C. State on Sunday at 1:00 pm.