Pictured Above: Freshman Phil Capra (Keith Lucas, Sideline Media)
 
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Brooklyn, NY – Despite both teams being held scoreless over the first five innings, the Wagner baseball team couldn't overcome a nine-run output over the last three innings as the Seahawks dropped game one of Friday's doubleheader at LIU Brooklyn, 9-1.
 
With the loss, Wagner falls to 9-15 on the year and 5-4 in Northeast Conference play while the Blackbirds improve to 6-18 and pick up their first league win, as they now stand at 1-6.
 
Sophomore CF Kyle Cala (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) and freshman LF Phil Capra (North Salem, NY/North Salem) each went 2-for-4 in the series opener with Cala scoring the lone run for the Seahawks. Junior SS Nick Mascelli (Clifton, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) was credited with the lone RBI on the afternoon for the visitors.
 
Junior RHP Austin Goeke (Bordentown, NJ/The Hun School) suffered his second loss of the season, falling to 3-2 on the year, after throwing 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs, surrendering three hits while walking a season-high four batters and striking out six, the fifth time this season the third-year Seahawk has recorded five or more strikeouts. Additionally, it is the fifth time in his last six outings in which he has fanned a minimum of five batters.
 
Six Blackbirds each recorded a hit in the game one victory, led by Charles Misiano, who finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs.  Luis Arias and William Jackson each drove in two while Kyle Ruth added an RBI.  LIU starter, Baylor LaPointe, tossed seven innings, allowing just one earned run, five hits, three walks and four strikeouts.  Nick Freijomil came on to hurl two innings of scoreless relief, allowing just a hit and striking out a batter.
 
Both starting pitchers danced around early trouble but managed to find their stride and put up identical zeroes over the first five innings of play. 

Following a 1-2-3 bottom of the third, Wagner had first crack in scoring the game's first run. After sophomore 3B Sean Mazzio (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School [DE]) had grounded out to short, senior designated hitter Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South) drew a six-pitch walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch.
 
Sophomore RF Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville) drew a free pass, giving the visitors runners on first and second with one out. Capra's patience at the plate forced LaPointe to a lengthy sequence before Capra flew out to center. LaPointe ended the Green & White's chance with a six-pitch strikeout of freshman 1B Anthony Harrold (Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic).
 
The Seahawks had momentum going in the fifth. Cala singled up the middle. Junior catcher Brendan Benecke (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) moved the Cala into scoring position with a beautifully, executed sacrifice bunt down the third baseline. Behind in the count, 0-1, sophomore 2B Kyle Brey (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) sent a high, chopper that was snagged by LIU's third baseman, Ruth, who fired across the diamond to first for the second out. Alertly, Hernandez sent a strike back to third as Arias was covering the base and applied the tag to Cala, who was trying to advance, ending the inning.
 
LIU Brooklyn scored three times in the bottom of the sixth for the contests' first runs. A lead-off single by Preschel and a walk to Hernandez gave LIU runners on first and second. Goeke fell behind in the count to Andy Camilo but managed to get the Blackbirds' designated hitter to fly-out for the first out. On Goeke's 1-0 delivery, Ruth doubled to left field, bringing in Preschel for the game's first run.
 
The 6-5 Wagner righty, Goeke, regained his focus on the mound and fanned Jackson for the second out.  Coincidentally, it would be the final batter of the day from the third-year Seahawk.  Senior right-hander Nathan Hunt (Kirtland, OH/Hawken School) came on in relief of Goeke and after getting ahead in the count 0-2, Misiano delivered one of the biggest hits in the contest, a two-run single to right, scoring both Ruth and Hernandez as the Blackbirds extended its lead to 3-0.
 
LIU Brooklyn tacked on four additional runs to take a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh. Senior southpaw Paul Mammino (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) came in for Hunt after he allowed the first two batters in the frame to reach base, Preschel on a throwing error by Mascelli and a walk to Hernandez.  Mammino was able to strike out Camilo before a pair of walks plated the Blackbirds' fourth run of the contest.  Misiano reached on a fielder's choice as Jackson was forced out at second which Hernandez to score from third. Arias sent a double down the left field line which plated two more runs as LIU Brooklyn led 7-0.
 
Wagner tallied its first run as Mascelli sent a hot shot to short which retired Brey and allowed Cala to score after he doubled to center to kick off the Seahawks' eight.  LIU added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning before closing the door on Wagner in the ninth to pick up the series-opening victory.
 
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