Pictured Above: Anthony Pecora reacts after stroking game-winning two-run single (photo by: Steve McLaughlin Photography)


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Norwich, CT - With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore 3B Anthony Pecora (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamroneck) delivered the game-winning, walk-off two-run single as the Wagner College baseball team eliminated the defending league champions, the No. 1 seed, Bryant University Bulldogs, 6-5, on Saturday afternoon. 

Wagner will now face fourth-seeded Sacred Heart tonight at 7:40 p.m. with the winner advancing to championship Sunday to face second-seeded Central Connecticut in a Noon matchup.

With the win, the Seahawks moved to 22-27 on the year and earned the right to play the No. 4 seed Sacred Heart in a second elimination game of the day. Bryant finishes the year at 29-26.

BASE | @WagBaseball Walks It Off.... Defeats @BryantAthletics 6-5, Will Face No. 4 Seed @SHUBigRed later this evening @necbaseball pic.twitter.com/UCTzySpuF0

— Wagner Gameday (@WagnerGameday) May 27, 2017

 
Pecora went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, which included the game-winner. Junior SS Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) and junior RF Kyle Cala (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) also had two hits, with Cala driving in two runs and Mazzio adding an RBI. 
 
Senior co-captain Danny Marsh (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) went seven innings, giving up six hits, five earned runs while walking four and striking out seven in taking the no decision. Freshman LHP Freddy Sabido (Staten Island, NY/Susan E. Wagner [Saint Louis Univ]), who went 1-for-4 as the designated hitter with a run scored, threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing a hit, a walk and strikeout.
 
Freshman Steven Bowley (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross Academy) got the win, tossing the final 0.2 innings while making a pivotal play in the top half of the ninth, throwing a wild pitch but rapidly making a break for the plate and applied the tag on Bryant's Nick Angelini trying to score, which ended the inning.

Bryant's Jimmy Titus and Cole Fabio each had two hits with Fabio driving in three of the five runs. The Bulldogs starter, Steve Theetge, the NEC Pitcher of the Year, lasted 6.1 innings, giving up seven hits, four earned runs while issuing three walks and striking out five and not factoring into the decision. Logan Lessard took the loss, giving up the game-winning runs in his lone inning of work.
 
After Marsh retired the Bulldogs in order in the top of the first, the Seahawks struck for the game's first run in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Godino walked and Capra was hit by a pitch. Sabdio drew a four-pitch free pass, loading the bases for Cala.
 
The third-year Seahawk outfielder took the first pitch he saw to left center, scoring Godino as Wagner jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
 
In the top of the second, Marsh walked the leadoff hitter, Chris Wright before getting Cole Fabio to fly out for the first out of the inning. Marsh notched his second strikeout of the game when he got Tyler Panno down on strikes. Following two straight hit-by-pitches giving the Bulldogs runners on first and second, All-NEC First Teamer was able get Jacob Marotta swinging at strike three to end the potential scoring threat.
 
With both starters putting up zeroes over the next two innings, Bryant manufactured a run in the top of the fifth.  Marotta walked to start the frame for the Bulldogs. With the count in his favor, Marsh was able to freeze Angelini for his fifth strikeout of the contest.
 
The Bulldogs tied the game a batter later as Jimmy Titus doubled to left center, bringing in Marotta from first in tying the game at 1-1. Mickey Gasper was intentionally walked giving Bryant runners on first and second with one out.
 
Fabio broke the tie with a two-run single to left field, giving the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead. Bryant tacked on its fourth run of the frame as Panno tripled to left center, scoring Fabio. Marsh was able to get out of the inning with his sixth strikeout of the contest, freezing Gaby Cruz.
 
In Wagner's half of the sixth, the Seahawks got a leadoff double to left center from Godino. Following a strikeout of Capra, Sabido singled through the right side, giving the Seahawks runners on the corner with the tying-run at the plate in the form of Cala.
 
Cala lofted a fly ball to deep center field, scoring Godino as Wagner trailed 4-2. The next batter, Pecora, tripled to right center, plating Sabido, as Wagner found themselves down 4-3 but Pecora was out at the plate trying to score on the overthrow from the outfield.
 
In the top of the seventh, Bryant went back ahead by two, 5-3. Titus leadoff with a single to left and Gasper walked, giving the Bulldogs runners on first and second. Wright sacrificed both over and Fabio brought in Titus with a sacrifice fly to right field in extending the lead.
 
Wagner answered back in the bottom of the stanza. Silvestrone led off with a double and came around to score when Mazzio singled down the left field line plating Silvestrone and moving Brey to second.  Bryant went to their bullpen, bringing in Craig Lacey for Theetge.
 
Lacey got Godino to strike out for the second out of the inning. A walk to Capra loaded the bases for Sabido, who then ripped a laser down the first base line but Bryant's first baseman, Wright, was able to beat Sabido to bag to end the threat.
 
Sabido came on for Marsh in the top of the eighth, working a scoreless inning in getting Cruz to fly out to Godino in left and a pair of a grounders in working a 1-2-3 frame. In the bottom of the inning, Cala recorded his second hit of the contest with a leadoff single. Pecora couldn't move him over as swung through the pitch for the first out of the inning.
 
Silvestrone walked, moving Cala to second with one out. D'Amore ripped a frozen line drive to center field that appeared destined to drop but Bryant's Angelini was able to cover the ground and record the second out of the inning. The Bulldogs went to their closer, Logan Lessard, who got Brey chasing strike three to conclude the eighth.
 
In the ninth, Sabido gave up a leadoff single to Angelini but was able to strike out Titus looking before Angelini stole second and then promptly swiped third. Sabido walked Gasper forcing the Seahawks to go to the pen and bringing in Bowley

In the last of the ninth, Mazzio singled to left field. With one out, Capra was walked, giving the Seahawks runners on first and second. Freshman Eric Lauk (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) was brought in to pinch-run for Capra.
 
Wagner was down to its final out after Sabido struck out swinging. Lessard fired off a wild pitch which moved both runners into scoring position. Cala earned a walk, loading the bases and setting up the stage for the dramatic ending.
 
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