Pictured Above: Senior lefthander Neil Abbatiello (Credit: David Cohen/CB Daily)
 
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New Britain, CT – Wagner senior lefthander, Neil Abbatiello, went eight innings in allowing just one run while classmates Anthony Pecora and Joe Silvestrone each drove in an RBI as the Seahawks defeated the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, the Green & White improves to 7-15 on the season and 3-2 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play while the Blue Devils move to 9-9 and 2-3 in league contests. These teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday morning with first-pitch slated for 11:00 a.m. due to predicted inclement weather in tomorrow's forecast.  
 
Silvestrone led the way for the Seahawks with two hits and drove in what turned out to be the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. Pecora crossed the plate twice while fellow classmate Will Johnson also scored a run and added a hit in today's contest.  Junior right-hander Ryan Lauk came on for Abbatiello and walked a pair before newcomer John LaPointe was able to close the door in picking up his third save of the season.
 
Chandler Debrosse and Dave Matthews drove in CCSU's two runs in defeat. Central's starter, Brandon Fox, matched Abbatiello in tossing eight innings, with Fox allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits while walking three and striking out three.
 
Pecora led off the game with his team-leading third home run of the season. For the Mamaroneck, NY native, it marked his sixth career round tripper. The Blue Devils knotted the ballgame at 1-1 on a RBI grounder to second off the bat of Matthews, which brought in Debrosse, who led off the stanza with a single.
 
The game remained tied at one with Abbatiello and Fox trading zeroes over the next four innings before the Seahawks were able to regain the lead in the top of the sixth. Pecora led off with a walk. Johnson flew out to right for the first out but the Green & White was able to come through with the timely hit, as Silvestrone roped a triple to center field, scoring Pecora, as Wagner took a 2-1 lead.
 
CCSU threatened to even the game in the bottom of the six. Matthews led off with a single to center, but Abbatiello was able retire the next two batters via fly outs.  A walk to Sam Loda gave the home team runners on first and second before the 2018 All-NEC First Teamer Abbatiello was able to get Jake Siracusa to fly out to Pecora ending the threat.
 
Following a scoreless seventh, the Green & White tacked on two more runs in the eighth in claiming a 4-1 lead. Johnson ripped a one out double down the left field line and Silvestrone reached after being hit-by-a-pitch. Junior DH Freddy Sabido moved the runners up a base on a grounder to first for the second out.
 
Junior RF Griffin Schneider reached on an error by CCSU's catcher, which plated home both Johnson and Silvestrone, giving Wagner the three-run advantage. Central Connecticut was able to get a pair on with one out as Jay Devito walked to start the frame and Buddy Dewaine sent a base hit through the left side.

Abbatiello retired Jack Nolan for the second out and got out of the inning on a comebacker to the mound, in which Abbatiello fielded and tossed over to first to end potential rally.
 
Lauk came on for Abbatiello to start the ninth and walked the first two men he faced. The Seahawks went to the bullpen in the form of the lefty LaPointe. LaPointe induced a grounder off the bat of Matt Bertochi, as shortstop Mike Ruggiero fielded the ball and flipped to Pecora to force Dan Covino out at second.
 
CCSU managed to cut the lead in half, 4-2, as Debrosse lofted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Siracusa. LaPointe closed then closed the door in preserving the win for the visitors as Devito grounded to Ruggiero, who went the short way to Pecora to seal the victory.

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