Bulldogs beat Wagner with two-out, two-run ninth inning rally

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Freshman Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) capped a two-out, two-run rally in the top of the ninth with an RBI single to center as the Bryant University baseball team came from behind to defeat Wagner, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

With the win, the Bulldogs (10-18, 5-1 NEC) picked up a series victory over the Seahawks (6-17, 2-5) and have now won seven of their last eight games. All three wins this weekend came by one run.

The Bulldogs mounted their game-winning rally after the Wagner reliever Doug Molnar had retired the first two batters of the ninth. Freshman Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.) kept the inning going with a double to right center, and junior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) tied the game with a line-drive single to center. Freshman Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) was then hit by a 1-2 pitch, setting up Cruz for his heroics. Cruz laced a 2-2 offering from Nick Robino into center, scoring Gasper from second to give the Bulldogs a 6-5 lead.

Junior Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Conn.) did the rest as he posted a strikeout and got back-to-back ground outs to short to close the door on his fifth save of the year.

In a role reversal from Saturday's second game, it was the Bulldogs that loaded the bases with no outs in the first but were only able to score one run. After three walks, Wagner starter Neil Abbatiello induced a 4-3 double play that brought in a run on the backend. He then got a soft ground ball to second to end the inning.

The similarities to Saturday's game continued as the Seahawks used the momentum from the first to take the lead with a bid second inning. Phil Capra and Freddy Sabido opened the inning with singles and Anthony Pecora followed by bunting an 0-2 pitch right back to the mound. Bryant starter Ross Weiner (Woodbridge, Conn.) fielded the bunt and had the runner at third but his throw went down the LF line, allowing a run to score. James Wise followed with an RBI single and Joe Silvestrone made it 3-1 with a fielder's choice ground out.

Wagner extended its lead with a two-out run in the third. A walk and a hit batter started the inning, prompting the Bulldogs to bring in sophomore Craig Lacey (Westfield, Mass.). Lacey walked the first batter he faced but got help from his defense as the Bulldogs doubled off the runner at second on a line drive up the middle. Wise, however, worked a full count before singling to center to score a run.

Bryant answered back in the fourth, pulling within a run on a two-run single from senior Jacob Marotta (Bridgewater, Mass.). Gasper was hit by a pitch, Cruz singled and both advanced into scoring position on a ground ball to first. Marotta followed by hitting the first pitch he saw into right field for a two-run single. The Bulldogs eventually loaded the bases but Abbatiello got a fly to left to end the threat.

The Seahawks made it a 5-3 game in the seventh as Sean Mazzio lifted a solo home run over the left field fence.

The Bulldogs would get the run back on a throwing error in the top of the eighth. Singles from Wright and sophomore Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.) put two on, and Wright came around to score as the Seahawks threw the ball wide at first on a potential inning-ending double play.

Weiner allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits, walked two and didn't strike out a batter in two-plus innings. Lacey tossed 4 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just one run on three hits. He retired 11-of-12 batters until Mazzio ended his day with the home run in the seventh. Sophomore Nathan Wrighter (Windsor, N.Y.) pitched 1 2/3 of one-hit relief to earn his first collegiate victory.  

Titus doubled twice in the game, Cruz went 2-for-5 and Marotta finished 2-for-4. Senior Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) stole the 55th base of his career in the first inning and is now just one shy of tying Carl Anderson's DI program record of 56.

Abbatiello allowed three runs on three hits and walked four in four innings. Molnar surrendered three runs (two earned) on six hits over 4 2/3 innings of relief. It was his second appearance of the weekend.

Capra, Sobido and Wise all finished with two hits, with Wise driving in a pair of runs.

The Bulldogs return home on Tuesday to face UConn. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Conaty Park.