BOX SCORE

Jacksonville, FL - Defending Atlantic Sun Champion Jacksonville overcame an early 5-0 deficit en route to an 18-8 victory over Wagner at Sessions Stadium. The Dolphins improved to 5-4 on the year with a potent offensive attack that notched 16 hits and eight walks while the Seahawks remain winless at 0-4.

Wagner had a solid offensive game, as nine different players hit safely while recording 13 hits and two walks. Unfortunately, 11 Jacksonville players hit safely, including all nine starters, as the Dolphins scored at least three runs in four different frames.

Leading the way for the Seahawks was junior Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown), who continued his early season surge by going 3-5 with two runs and two RBI. On the year, he is hitting .412 (7-17) with three runs and three extra-base hits (2 doubles / 1 triple). Juniors Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) and Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) also recorded multiple-hits, checking in with two hits apiece.

Wagner struck first for five two-out runs in the first inning while sending 10 people to the plate. Lucas and senior Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) each singled with two outs. Boyd then reached an error on the second baseman with Lucas scoring on the play and Avella advancing to third. Junior Brian Martutartus (Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon) plated Avella while pushing Boyd to second with a RBI single through the left side. Classmate Matt Logan (Wall, NJ / Wall) then drew a free pass, loading up the bases. Junior MJ Dugan (Mountainside, NJ / Governor Livingston) extended the lead to 3-0 after being hit by a pitch, forcing in Boyd. McDonnell, the ninth batter in the frame, capped the scoring with a two-run single.

Jacksonville answered with four runs in the bottom part of the frame and one in the second, tying the game up at 5-5.

The Seahawks reclaimed the lead at 8-5 with three runs in the top of the fourth. McDonnell reached on a throwing error, leading off the inning. Senior Damian Csakai (Freehold Township, NJ / Freehold Township) and junior Jared Gruccio (Landisville, NJ / Buena Regional) followed with bunt singles. Instead of having a bases-loaded no out sitation, McDonnell was caught straying too far from third for the first out. Lucas then brought home Csakai and Gruccio with a two-run scoring double to left center. Later in the inning, Boyd pushed the lead out to 8-5 with a run-scoring single up the middle.

From that point on it was all Dolphins with Jacksonville registering 13 runs on 13 hits over the final four frames. During the same time, Wagner was just 2-for-16 (.125) at the plate over the final four-plus innings.

Junior LHP Jack Rice (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) was the pitcher of record for the Seahawks, falling to 0-2 after yielding five runs on five hits wile striking out three over 3.0 innings. Brian Gilroy struck out one in a perfect inning of relief while improving to 1-0. Clay Kollenbaum struck out four over 3.0 innings to collect the save.

Chuck Opachich was one of four Dolphins with multiple-hits, going 3-5 with three runs.

Wagner returns to action tomorrow at 3:00 pm against North Florida.