May 9, 2004

Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, NY - The Wagner College baseball team keep their hopes for a Northeast Conference Tournament berth alive with a 9-2 win over visiting Sacred Heart University on Sunday. The win improves the Seahawks to 11-11 in the NEC and 17-27 overall, while Sacred Heart slipped to 9-12 in the NEC and 11-34 on the year. The loss means the Pioneers will have to win their final three games of the season against St. Francis (NY) and Wagner would have to lose it's final two for Sacred Heart to get in the tournament.

Wagner starter sophomore Michael D'Angelis (3-4) was given a five run cushion that was more than enough as the righty tossed a complete game seven hitter for his third win the year. The Seahawks jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second behind a two run bases load single from sophomore Joseph Malfettano that was set up by a pair of Pioneer errors and a walk. The next batter, freshman Matt Mastrianni then connected on his third home run of the year, a three run shot to right center.

Wagner would then tack on two more in the third, including a RBI single from sophomore Brian Scrocca, who also scored twice on the day. Malfettano, then added a RBI double that chased Sacred Heart starter Robert Duell (0-7), who went 2 2/3 innings allowing seven runs, two earned, on seven hits and two walks.

In the fourth sophomore Nick Papa launched a two run shot over the right field fence, staking Wagner to a 9-0 advantage.

D'Angelis, who struck out a career best nine batters, cruised through till the eighth when the Pioneers broke through with a run on a RBI single to right from Curtis Lewsey. Then faced with runners on first and second with one out after the single, the Seahawks escaped the jam with a ground ball to short and runners interference double play.

A solo home run by the Pioneer's Tim Lantz with two outs in the ninth provided the final margin.

Senior Chris Dick record three hits, junior Kane Furst, Papa, and Malfettano each had two, while eight of the Seahawk starters had at least one hit in the game.

Lewsey, Lantz, and Greg Delmonico each had two hits in the game for Sacred Heart.