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Charlotte, NC - Charlotte scored five-straight runs to start the game before holding off a late-charging Wagner squad by a 7-4 count in the first of four games this week at Hayes Stadium before an announced crowd of 782.  The defending Atlantic 10 Champion 49ers improve to 7-2 with the win while the Seahawks fall to 0-6.

Playing on the road against a talented Charlotte squad, the Green & White dug itself a first-inning hole that would prove too deep to overcome. J.J. Elseser led off the frame by reaching via an error before moving to second when Justin Roland drew a walk. Shane Brown then loaded up the bases with a bunt single. Shane Basen followed with a two-run double, plating Elseser and Roland while advancing Roland to third. Tony Montalbano then extended the lead out to 5-0 with a three-run blast to right field, while giving the 49ers and insurmountable five-run advantage.

After allowing the first five batters of the game to score, freshman RHP Max Schmardel (Eatontown, NJ / Monmouth Regional) settled into a nice groove, yielding just one hit over his 4.0 innings of work while keeping Wagner within striking distance.

The Seahawk offense was foiled at the plate over the first four frames as reigning Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the year RHP Andrew Smith didn't allow a baserunner while retiring all 12 batters he faced over his first four innings of work. 

Wagner finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning, plating four runs on just two hits.

Senior Hayden Hunter (Santa Monica, CA / Notre Dame) was the first Seahawk to reach base after being plunked by Smith. Freshman Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) followed with a run-scoring double to right center, scoring Hunter while trimming the deficit to 5-1. Smith then retired the next two batters and was on the verge of evading further damage when junior Jayson Keel (Starkville, MS / Starkville / Holmes CC) and sophomore Ian Miller (Downington, PA / Bishop Shanahan) each drew free passes.  Senior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen) / Seton Hall) took advantage of Smith's wildness with a bases-clearing double through the left side, making it a one-run game at 5-4. Brown, who advanced to third on the throw home, would be stranded 90 feet from home as Charlotte maintained a slim one-run advantage.

Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Green & White would get the rest of the way as the visitors were limited to just four baserunners and no hits over its final four trips to the plate.

The 49ers would tack on single runs in the sixth and seventh innings en route to a series-opening 7-4 victory.

Brown went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double, walk and three RBI to lead the way for Wagner, which was outhit 10-2.

Charlotte was led by the middle of the order as Basen, Brown and Montalbano combined to go 5-for-11 with six RBI and four runs.

Smith improved to 3-0 on the year, allowing four runs on two hits and a pair of walks over 5.0 innings while LHP John Hamilton earned his fourth save of the season, striking out two over a scoreless inning of work.

Schmardel (0-2) assumed the loss, surrendering five runs, four earned, on five hits and three walks over 3.1 innings.

Freshman RHP Connor Smith (West Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) was solid in relief, allowing just two runs over 3.1 inning of work while working out of several difficult situations. Classmate RHP Anthony Battaglia (Staten Island, NY / St. Joseph By The Sea) was also impressive, retiring both batters he faced after entering to a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the bottom of the eighth.

The teams return to action with a 1:00 pm doubleheader on Saturday.