Norfolk, Va. — It took extra innings to do it, but the Seahawks took a 12-11 win over Norfolk State on Friday for the team's first Northeast Conference win of the 2025 season.
Now at 4-7 on the season and 1-0 in the NEC, Wagner can set its sights on a series win in game two after securing the opener.
Junior righty Andrew Ravelo earned the win on Friday, going 3.0 hitless innings to shut the door on a Norfolk State lineup that knew how to put points on the board.
It was a big day at the plate for the Seahawks, with lots of traffic on the base paths and runs being scored consistently to capitalize on those runners. Eight of the Seahawks' nine hitters logged a hit and four of those were multi-hit performances.
The Seahawks started the game hot, with senior Lukas Torres opening the game with a lead-off home run to right field. Torres had a productive day throughout, going 2-of-5 including the home run, adding three runs and working a walk.
Not to be outdone by Torres, sophomore Joseph Mennella went yard in the second inning, scoring sophomore Connor Roche. Norfolk State was able to answer in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs of its own. Mennella was seeing pitches incredibly well, going 1-of-2 at the plate then walking three times, scoring two runs and adding three RBIs to his season total.
The Spartans added one more run in the third then put up a five-spot in the fourth, so Wagner trailed 8-3 going into the fifth, but the team did what it does best and piled on runs despite that deficit. Seven runs and three hits later, the Seahawks had a 10-8 lead.
The fifth opened with a trio of walks to the first three batters, then junior Nicholas Mazzotta sent an RBI single to the shortstop, adding a run and keeping the bases loaded. A single from sophomore Diego Tavarez scored one more and forced a pitching change, but the momentum was in the Seahawks' favor at that point.
Norfolk State recorded the first out via strikeout to senior Xavier Ulrich, but senior Mateo Matthews then walked to push a run in and a groundout from senior Bryce Phelps scored another. Sophomore Connor Roche reached on an error and then Mennella, back at the plate after leading off the inning, worked his second walk of the frame.
Freshman Jake Griess sent an RBI single up the middle to score one more and then a Torres fly out finally put an end to the outpouring of offense.
Scoring consistently through the game, the Spartans put up runs in the second, third, fourth, sixth and eighth innings. Half of the team's eight hits came from home runs and three of those came from the top half of the order.
Starting senior pitcher Connor Hayden went 3.2 innings and allowed seven runs, striking out four of the 20 batters he faced, before right-handed freshman William Grayson entered the game. Grayson struggled to find the zone and gave up one hit and one run before junior right hander A.J. Hiestand replaced him.
Hiestand went 1.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits and striking out four. Next into the game, junior lefty Heitaro Hayashi went 2.2 innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out four of the 11 batters he faced.
With the game tied up at the end of the eighth, Ravelo entered the game to record the final three outs of regulation, then ended up going 3.0 innings to close out his first win of the season. He walked just two batters and struck out five.
Wagner was able to do serious damage to Norfolk State starter Walker Fuller, scoring eight runs on six hits in the 4.0 innings he pitched. He issues five walks. He was replaced by Parker Hampton, who went 6.0 innings and gave up four runs on eight hits, issuing the other four walks of the game.
The Wagner pitchers were especially successful in finding the strike zone, logging 17 total strikeouts. In comparison, the Seahawk batters only struck out five times and worked nine total walks.
Looking for their first series win of conference play, the Seahawks return to Marty L. Miller Field for a 1 p.m. first pitch in Saturday's game.
