Newark, NJ — Wagner scored a run in the top of the ninth, but timely hitting from NJIT ultimately gave the Highlanders a 6-5 walk-off win.
The Seahawks had a quiet day of offense, scoring their five runs on four hits. The first four hitters in the order each worked a walk, with the bottom three doing the same.
Junior Nicholas Mazzotta accounted for half the Wagner hits on Friday, with two hits, a run and a walk in his final line. Sophomores Diego Tavarez and Christian Knight added a hit apiece.
Starting pitcher Jake Toporek had a strong six-inning outing where he struck out five. Junior Jason Masick takes the loss, going 2.1 innings and responsible for the Highlanders' final two runs. He is now 2-2 this season.
NJIT starter Nate DeSchryver seemed shaky to open the game, allowing the Seahawks' first run on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch for Xavier Ulrich. With nowhere to put him, senior Lukas Torres scored. Wagner tacked on two more runs in the second on an error by the NJIT third baseman.
There were some late heroics for Wagner when Tavarez broke the tie with an RBI single that scored Mazzotta from second, but the Highlanders still had three outs to work with. After a one-run NJIT home run in the fifth, the middle inning seemed safe for the Seahawks before a three-run seventh from the Highlanders tied the game. A double and two walks in the ninth had runners threatening and a two-RBI single allowed NJIT to walk the game off with one out.
The series will conclude with a Saturday doubleheader after games two and three were moved up due to rain in the forecast. Game one will begin with a 1:30 p.m. EST first pitch.
