Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team dropped its series opener to Wagner 7-3 at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Friday afternoon.
 
The Knights (10-25, 1-14 NEC) received a two-RBI performance from sophomore catcher Evan McDonald, who finished 2-for-4 loss in the loss.
 
The first-place Seahawks (27-12, 12-3 NEC) tallied 12 hits in the victory including a pair from third baseman Anthony Pecora, who knocked in two runs and helped extend his team's win streak to four.
 
Wagner captured a 4-0 lead with all four tallies coming in the second inning against FDU freshman starter Trent Valentine. Pecora opened the scoring with a two-run triple to right field and then scored when the next batter, Nick Mascelli delivered a three-bagger of his own. The Seahawks added another on a Sean Mazzio single before Valentine eventually stranded the bases loaded by striking out Anthony Godino to end the inning.
 
Valentine (1-5) went six innings, allowing the four earned runs on eight hits, while striking out four.
 
The deficit would remain at four until the sixth when McDonald broke through with the Knights' first runs. After the first two men were retired, freshman Connor Stanton netted an infield single and then sophomore Brandon Seltzer smacked a ground-rule double. The next batter McDonald hammered a double to left field, which chased home Stanton and Seltzer with the Knights' first two runs.
 
Wagner starter Eric Ligda settled down and kept the Knights off the board until the ninth.
 
Meanwhile, in the seventh, the Seahawks added to their lead with a three-run triple by Godino. Godino reached third and then scored on an errant throw to make it a 7-2 game.
 
Seltzer led off the FDU ninth with a walk and McDonald followed with a single, which marked the end of Ligda's afternoon. Wagner moved to reliever Brad Currao, who gave up an RBI single to Owen VonEsslinger before inducing a double play and ending the game with a strikeout.
 
VonEsslinger joined McDonald as the lone other Knight to record two hits, finishing 2-for-4 in the ballgame. Freshman right-hander Peter Theodorellis pitched in relief of Valentine and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits across his two innings of work.
 
These two teams square off with a seven-inning doubleheader tomorrow at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.