Hanover, MD - The Wagner baseball team swept its doubleheader against Coppin State to begin NEC play on Saturday. The team shutout the Eagles 8-0 in Game 1 and won 8-3 in Game 2.

Wagner earned its first shutout of the season off of the back of junior Julian Taudin-Chabot.

Taudin-Chabot shined across six scoreless innings in Game 1. He struck out the first two batters he faced — finishing with five punchouts — and muscled through five walks to maintain the lead set up in the first inning. 

As Coppin State threatened in his final inning of work, Taudin-Chabot induced a double play before striking out the final batter of the inning. At 99 pitches, the starter gave way to the bullpen as senior Ruben Del Castillo was tasked with preserving the shutout.

A bases loaded situation arose for the bullpen arm in his first inning of work, but Del Castillo escaped the inning thanks to a fly out to right field. Del Castillo finished the outing with three straight strikeouts to earn the save and secure the shutout win over the Eagles.

Junior Chris Conniff hit a two-run home run as a part of a huge first inning. The St. John's transfer belted one over the right field fence to bring in the leadoff hitter, senior Maimu Kobayashi, and give the Seahawks an early 2-0 lead.

The runs didn't stop there in the first as three errors by the Eagles allowed three more runs to cross the plate. More miscues by the Eagles gave the Seahawks plenty of chances to run up the score and that was all the Green & White would need to open NEC play with a win.

Early run support came again in Game 2 as the Seahawks hung seven runs on the Eagles in the first three innings of play. Seniors Cody Bey and Griffin Selby each picked up RBIs in the first and third inning, helping Wagner jump out to a six run lead.

Sophomore Connor Hayden drew his first start of the season as he went four innings with four strikeouts and two earned runs. Senior Eric Crouse followed, allowing one run in one inning. 

Junior Nicholas Hanson then took over mound duties, hurling four shutout innings and striking out five to finish off the doubleheader sweep.

The Seahawks will finish their weekend series against Coppin State Sunday at 12:00 pm.