Rock Hill, SC — The Seahawks put up a season-high number of runs on Saturday but the offensive effort was not enough to outlast Winthrop and Wagner lost 13-11 in the second game of the series.
With the win, the Eagles take the series but the Seahawks look to carry the momentum at the plate into Sunday's game three to avoid giving up a sweep.
It was an explosive game for Wagner, with the offense linking together hits as they have all season but scoring more runs than in previous games, when the most the team had put up was six runs. It took until the fifth for the Seahawks to get on the board, but they were able to put up an eight-run fifth, then added a run in the sixth and two in the seventh.
With an 11-4 lead in the middle of the seventh, the Eagles were able to answer with nine unanswered runs of their own that eventually sealed the win. Both teams finished with 12 hits, but Winthrop was able to score the two more runs that mattered.
Down 3-0 going into the top of the fifth inning, the Eagles had the game in hand but were not running away with things when the Wagner batters took control of the game. The Seahawks were able to chase Eagles' starter Owen Sarna from the game in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs before Sarna exited without recording the inning's final out.
It was an effective combination of hitters making contact but also seeing the ball well enough to draw walks.
Senior Bryce Phelps led off the top of the inning with a single, advancing to second on an error and then to third on a Connor Roche groundout. Senior Mateo Matthews added an RBI-single to score Phelps, then freshman Jake Griess was hit by a pitch.
The Seahawks were able to seize the momentum and back at the top of the order, senior Lukas Torres singled to load the bases. A clutch hitter when he has runners in scoring position, junior Nicholas Mazzotta reached on a fielder's choice that also scored Griess. Diego Tavarez then sent a two-RBI double down the left field line. Consecutive walks to Xavier Ulrich and Joesph Mennella meant the Seahawks had batted around and brought Phelps back to the plate.
The Eagles made a pitching change between Ulrich and Mennella, bringing in righty Harrison Wilson, but the change did little to slow down the Wagner batters.
After Wilson gave up a walk to Mennella, Phelps reached on a shortstop error, scoring Tavarez and keeping the bases loaded. Roche hit an RBI single, then Matthews closed out the scoring on a two-RBI single before Wilson struck out Griess to put a stop to the Seahawks.
After Sarna exited the game, the Seahawks were able to put up four more runs on an error and two singles.
Phelps continued his hot hitting on Saturday, beginning the fifth-inning rally and going 2-of-3 on the day with three runs and a walk. He was one of five Seahawks with multiple hits and continues to lead the Seahawks with a .484 batting average through nine games.
Mateo Matthews went 2-of-3 with three RBIs at first base, working two walks in a massive day for the senior. Mazzotta, Torres and Tavarez continue to get on base, each on a nine-game streak of reaching base dating back to the season opener against Indiana State.
Starting pitcher Jake Toporek went 6.2 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. Junior Andrew Ravelo entered the game in the seventh, going 0.1 innings with five runs on two hits. Junior righty Jason Masick ultimately took the loss, pitching the final inning and giving up two runs on two hits. The left-handed hitters of the Eagles' lineup accounted for seven of the team's twelve hits.
The Seahawks return to The Winthrop Ballpark on Sunday, March 2 for a 1 p.m. EST game where the team looks to take on game away from the Eagles after they took the series Saturday. The game will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
