Gastonia, N.C. — The Wagner baseball program hits the road to open its 2025 season, taking on Indiana State in North Carolina for a doubleheader on Friday, February 14 with the conclusion of the series on Saturday, February 15.
After opening the season with an Atlantic Coast Conference team in the previous two seasons, the Seahawks will be heading down the coast but only to face a western neighbor. Playing in Gastonia, N.C., Wagner will be facing Indiana State in a three-game series.
In the Seahawks' fourth season under head coach Craig Noto, the goal is to acquaint the newcomers on this roster while working to build on last year's successful 21-12 conference record.
Preseason Nods
For the second consecutive season, the Northeast Conference's preseason coaches' poll has tabbed the Seahawks as the conference's predicted second place finisher. Last season, Wagner advanced to the semifinal round of the NEC Tournament before a 6-3 loss to Merrimack ended the season.
Graduate senior catcher Xavier Ulrich and senior infielder Mateo Matthews were chosen as part of Perfect Game's Preseason All-NEC Team, a nod to two players who can provide experience in the locker room and on the field as the program works to acclimate its new faces.
Who Returns for the Seahawks?
A big comfort for the Seahawks will be the return of their top three hitters — Matthews, graduate outfielder Lukas Torres and sophomore infielder Diego Tavarez. With batting averages of .293 and .289, respectively, Torres and Tavarez will be reliable hitters as Noto's staff works to place newcomers where they can contribute.
Matthews, at either first base or designated hitter, comes into 2025 after hitting .275 in 2024, with a .443 slugging percentage, seven home runs and seven doubles across his recorded stats. Adding 25 walks to those numbers, Matthews has the ability to bring some power to the plate while also earning a free base.
Entering his third season at Wagner, catcher Ulrich could be a big factor in helping the team gel as the season begins. The only upperclassman of the four catchers on the roster, Ulrich will be a steady presence who has shown he can play a large volume of innings behind the plate.
The Newcomers
The Seahawks signed nine players to its recruiting class in anticipation of the 2025 season.
Catchers Dylan Simeone and Andrew Marquis will be joining Ulrich behind the plate. Jacob Griess, Jayden Alvarez and Matt Sutera are the newest Seahawks in the infield and all four incoming freshman pitchers are righties — William Grayson, Frankie Nardo, Paden Mather and Jeffrey Germosen.
In addition to that group of freshmen, Noto and staff hit the transfer portal to bring in 11 additional players.
Primarily bulking up the bullpen, Wagner brought in seven right-handed pitchers in Jeff Davis, Colin Trizuto, AJ Hiestand, Andrew Ravelo, Justin Roitman, Vincent Corso and Sam Bonilla. Lefties Heitaro Hayashi and Gunnar Plante will bring some options to the pen as two of four total left handers on the 2025 roster.
Outfielder Jeremy Delamota and infielder Joseph Mennella round out the transfer class, helpful additions both fielding and at the plate.
Scouting the Sycamores
Indiana State enters the series with a news head coach — Tracy Archuleta took over the helm after the Sycamores He inherits a successful program. Indiana State has made four trips to NCAA Regionals in the last five seasons and is the defending two-time Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion.
Down 32 players from last season, Indiana State's roster will feature a number of fresh faces in the same way that the Wagner roster does. Archuleta does, though, bring in 22 players out of the transfer portal in addition to nine freshmen. Those experienced players may not have spent time together, but do bring college experience to the 2025 season.
A Look at the Season Opener
While snow is on the ground in New York, a line of storms coming through the southeast saw the opening series moved around on the calendar to feature a double header in order to fit all three games in around the inclement weather.
The games will be played at CaroMont Health Park, home of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball's Gastonia Ghost Peppers. Wagner and Indiana State have never faced off before and the Sycamores have played just one NEC team in program history, a matchup with Maryland Eastern Shore in 2012.
Wagner and Indiana State face off beginning Friday, February 13 at noon EST, with the second game beginning 35 minutes after the conclusion of the first. Saturday's game will be played at 1 p.m. EST.
