Staten Island, NY — Wagner earned its fourth Northeast Conference series sweep on Saturday with a 10-0, run-rule win over University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
The seven-inning game was a complete game from starting pitcher Heitaro Hayashi. It was the junior's longest outing of the season and a big game considering how well the Hawks were hitting the ball through the first two games of the weekend. Hayashi's day ended as a shutout, 7.0-inning outing where he struck out three, allowed two hits and walked just one batter.
The Hawks' pitching was strong through the first three frames, but Wagner came alive in the fourth and did not stop hitting. Starting off the scoring with a bang, senior Mateo Matthews hit a two-run home run to right field, then senior Jeremy Delamota added an RBI single later in the inning to give Wagner a 4-0 lead.
Adding single runs in the fifth and sixth on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Joseph Mennella and an RBI double from sophomore Connor Roche, the Wagner batters were settling in. On the mound, Hayashi continued to hold UMES off the board.
Wagner led 5-0 going into the seventh, then poured on five runs to send everyone home early with the run-rule win.
Junior Nicholas Mazzotta led off the inning with a walk, stole second and was joined on the bases by senior Bryce Phelps after he was hit by a pitch. The runners executed a double steal to put themselves in scoring position, then Mennella reached on a fielders' choice. Mazzotta was almost caught in a rundown, but a throwing error from the Hawks' catcher put the ball in the outfield and allowed him to scored.
A passed ball moved Phelps and Mennella up, then a walk to graduate Xavier Ulrich loaded the bases. The Hawks brought in game one starter Carter Champey to try and stop the bleeding and he struck out his first batter, but an RBI single from Roche once again put two runners in scoring position.
Champey worked another strikeout, but had to face a new batter in freshman Jake Griess, who had entered the game at second base as a defensive replacement. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Griess sent a single through to centerfield that was deep enough for Roche and Ulrich to score on the run-rule, walk-off hit.
Wagner finished with ten runs on eight hits, working five walks, striking out just two times and only stranding four runners. Roche led the way with a 2-of-3 day where he scored two runs, added two RBIs and walked. Four hitters had two RBIs apiece — Matthews, Mennella, Roche and Griess.
Now 15-3 in NEC play, the Seahawks have four more weekends to play before the season wraps up. Next, Wagner heads to Pennsylvania for a midweek at Lafayette on Tuesday, April 22 before a weekend series at Mercyhurst beginning Friday, April 25.
