Wagner rallies in ninth, earns weekend split

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Wagner rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth inning to earn a 6-4 victory over the Bryant University baseball team in the completion of Friday's suspended game on Saturday at Conaty Park.

The Bulldogs (39-14, 19-5 NEC) and Seahawks (19-33, 11-13) split the weekend series, with Bryant winning the first two and Wagner the final two. The victory also keeps the Seahawks' playoff hopes alive. They are currently tied for the final spot with LIU Brooklyn but need Mount St. Mary's (10-12) to lose at least one game on Sunday against Fairleigh Dickinson. The top seed in the conference tournament, Bryant will play the four seed on Thursday in the first round.

Wagner jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Friday but the Bulldogs rallied with three runs over the first two innings and hold a 3-2 lead after four innings of the halted game.

Nick Dini's solo home run in the first put the Seahawks on the board but Bryant answered in the bottom of the first. Junior Jordan Mountford (Guelph, Ont.) singled through the right side, stole second, advanced to third as the throw went into center and scored on a wild pitch.

Bryant took its first lead of the day with a pair of runs in the second. Sophomore Buck McCarthy (Saugus, Mass.) doubled and came around to score on a single from classmate Dan Cellucci (Sudbury, Mass.). Freshman Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) plated the second run with a sac fly to left.

When the game resumed Saturday, both bullpens took over, keeping the score 3-2 into the ninth inning. In the final inning, Trey Nicosia led off with a double down the left field line. Vaughn Champion then laid down a bunt that the freshman reliever Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) fielded and fired to third and appeared to get Nicosia but the force of the slide knocked the ball free. A hit batter then loaded the bases and Chris Smith tied the game with a bloop single to left. Dini followed with a two-run single up the middle to give the Seahawks the lead for good.

Bryant added a run in the bottom of the ninth as freshman Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) singled to start the inning and scored on a ground out from senior Tom Gavitt (North Stonington, Conn.). 

Senior Vaughn Hayward (Glendale, R.I.) started the game for the Bulldogs, tossing the first four innings before the game was halted. He allowed two runs on four hits, walked two and struck out four. Junior Trevor Lacosse (Watervliet, N.Y.) came on to pitch when the game resumed and was brilliant. He allowed just one hit and struck out two over three scoreless frames. Sophomore James Davitt (Wallingford, Conn.) tossed a scoreless eighth. 

The Bulldogs finish the regular season with a 39-14 overall record and will now prepare to defend their Northeast Conference title. The 2014 NEC Tournament begins on Thursday, May 22 at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Conn. Bryant will be the top seed, Central Connecticut will be the second seed and Sacred Heart will be the three seed. The fourth seed will be determined on Sunday.