STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Wagner has kept its streak alive, now the winners of eight straight after making a comeback to take down Saint Peter's 12-9 at home in a back-and-forth battle.
The Seahawks, after winning seven straight on the road, take the gritty win despite being out-hit by Saint Peter's, working 12 walks, batting in ten runs and striking out just six times while stranding 11 Peacocks on base to find a way to win. Wagner finished with its 12 runs on 11 hits, stealing six bases along the way.
Redshirt junior Braden Lowe was the key on the mound, going 2.2 scoreless innings where he allowed just one hit after four Wagner arms allowed Saint Peter's to score nine runs. The Wagner staff recorded 12 strikeouts — junior Tyler Vargas finished with four and Lowe with three. Senior Nicholas Mazzotta gets his third save of the season, entering with one out in the ninth and recording the final pair of outs to end the game.
Graduate Lukas Torres was intentionally walked in the eighth, setting a new single-season program record for Wagner with what was his 45th walk of the season, breaking the record of 44 set in 2024. He finished 1-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and a pair of walks.
Junior Diego Tavarez had the hot bat for Wagner, 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Junior Jackson Blakley and sophomore Matt Sutera were the clutch pair on the night, each batting in three runs. Blakley has collected seven RBIs in his last two games played, logging four at UMES on April 26 in addition to the three against the Peacocks.
The Peacocks, entering the game at 4-36 this season, jumped out to an early lead, leading 4-0 heading to the bottom of the third. Wagner's offense came to life as Saint Peter's melted down. Sophomore Jayden Alvarez led off the third with a double, moving to third on a passed ball. Torres singled to third base, safe at first in a tough play that held Alvarez at third. Sutera added an infield single to the Peacocks' pitcher, scoring Alvarez, then Tavarez added a bunt single that loaded the bases and forced Saint Peter's to go to the bullpen for the first time.
A balk from new pitcher Frank Caietta scored Torres, and advanced Tavarez and Sutera into scoring position, then a wild pitch had Tavarez moving to third and coming home. From first pitch to the final out, the game stretched four hours and 11 minutes, but was delayed after the home plate umpire was hit by the pitch. After a roughly 20 minute delay, the game resumed with just two umpires.
That had Wagner trailing 4-3, then junior Dylan Immel reached on a fielder's choice that scored Tavarez. A well-time hit-and-run play had Immel going first to third on a single from Mazzotta, then he scored on a sacrifice fly from Blakley that gave Wagner the 5-4 lead.
Entering to pitch in the fourth, Vargas kept the Peacocks off the board, recording a pair of strikeouts. A two-run home run in the fifth had the Peacocks retaking the lead, up 6-5 and pulling momentum back their way. In the sixth, sophomore William Grayson had to deal with that momentum, giving up a run and loading the bases for redshirt junior Braden Lowe, who allowed a two-RBI single before inducing an inning-ending groundout.
Trailing 9-5, Wagner seemed to be getting something done in the sixth with a new pitcher, with Alvarez reached by fielder's choice then moving to second after Torres was hit. Tavarez sent a two-out single through the left side that was deep enough to have Alvarez going home from second, but he was called out on a close tag sliding in. Wagner left the six without scoring.
In the seventh, Lowe struck out a pair and kept the Peacocks off the board, then Wagner started forcing the Saint Peter's pitchers to throw strikes. The Seahawks were able to score a pair on four walks and a pair of fielder's choice plays, working two RBI walks to come within two, trailing 9-7 heading to the eighth.
Lowe continued to be what Wagner needed, recording three groundouts in the top of the frame. New Saint Peter's pitcher Linden Reaburn was ultimately the difference in the game, with Wagner putting up a five-run eighth to take the lead.
Tavarez led off with a bunt single, advancing to second on a groundout. Immel walked, then Mazzotta singled to score Tavarez and put Immel at third off another well-timed jump from the junior. Mazzotta stole second, then both runners scored on a two-RBI single from Blakley that ultimately made the difference, giving Wagner a 10-9 lead. Blakley stole second then moved to third on a single from freshman Brendan McLoughlin, who was replaced by junior Josiah Ross as a pinch runner.
Ross stole second and after Alvarez struck out, Torres was intentionally walked to load the bases but Sutera was not fooled. The walk to Torres was his 45th of the season, a new single-season program record for Wagner.
Up 2-0 in the count, Sutera sent a two-RBI double deep down the right field line, giving Wagner a 12-9 lead and chasing Reaburn from the game. Two batters later, the Seahawks went to the ninth looking to secure the win.
Lowe ran into trouble, striking out his first batter before hitting his next two, so Wagner went to Mazzotta, who entered to pitch from shortstop. He struck out two Peacocks to get the final two outs.
Next up, Wagner heads to Delaware State for its final road series of the season, taking on Delaware State beginning Friday, May 1 with a scheduled 3 p.m. EDT first pitch at Bob Reed Field.
