Erie, Penn. — Wagner opened its series at Mercyhurst with a close win, taking the opener 6-5 to start the weekend.
With senior Bryce Phelps and sophomore Joseph Mennella combining to account for five of Wagner's RBIs, the offense held strong as the Lakers tried to make a late comeback.
Both teams added a run in the ninth with Mercyhurst scoring courtesy of a solo home run, but reliever Justin Roitman slammed the door with a strikeout to record the final out and earn the win.
Starting pitcher Jake Toporek split the game evenly with Roitman. Toporek went 4.2 innings, allowing the Lakers' first four runs on five hits. He walked just two of the 24 batters he faced and struck out five. Roitman, now 3-1 this season with the win, went the final 4.1 innings, allowing the one home run and three total hits.
He struck out nine of the 17 batters he faced, a new season high for the Wagner pitching staff that replaces two eight-strikeout performances from Toporek.
The Seahawks were held off the board for the game's first four innings courtesy of Mercyhurst starter Aidan Kelly, which allowed the Lakers to jump out to a 3-0 lead after a three-run second inning. Wagner did what it does best, though, and just kept hitting.
In the fifth, junior Nicholas Mazzotta got on via a two-out single. Sophomore Diego Tavarez worked a walk, then Mennella hit a three-run shot to tie the game up at 3-3, which was enough to chase Kelly from the game.
The Lakers added another run in the bottom of the frame, but Wagner was not done.
The seventh started as a repeat of the fifth but with no outs — Mazzotta led off with a single, then Tavarez followed with a walk. Mennella flied out, though, which pushed Mazzotta to third. A passed ball allowed him to score and Tavarez to advance, then an RBI single from Phelps scored Tavarez to give Wagner the 5-4 lead.
Down to the final inning, a lead-off triple for Tavarez set Wagner up well and Phelps managed another RBI single to make it a 6-4 lead, ultimately the run that kept the game from requiring extra innings.
Phelps finished his day 3-of-5 with two RBIs. Mennella, 1-of-4 with the home run, added Wagner's other three RBIs. Mazzotta was 2-of-5 with those two singles, scoring two runs. Tavarez had the most interesting line of the day, 1-of-1 with the triple, scoring three runs and working four walks.
The two teams are back Saturday, April 26 for a 2 p.m. EST matchup as the Seahawks look to win a fifth consecutive Northeast Conference series.
