NEWARK, NJ—Visiting Wagner scored all seven of its runs in the first four innings, highlighted by a four-run third inning, as the Seahawks took a 7-3 decision from NJIT Friday night at Riverfront Stadium in the first of a four-game weekend baseball series between the teams.
 
In an oddity, given the fact that ties are rare in baseball, both teams own 15-12-1 records with Friday's result in the books.
 
Wagner seized the upper hand quickly, scoring a run in each of the opening two innings. The Seahawks then used two home runs to power their four-run third inning and added a single run in the fourth inning before the Highlanders ever got on the scoreboard.
 
Held hitless by Wagner starting pitcher Nolan Long (1-1) through the first four innings, NJIT got four hits and three runs in the fifth off of Long. The Highlanders, who had three runs in and the bases loaded with one out, could not do any more against Long, who got the last two batters of the fifth inning to limit the damage,
 
The hard-throwing 6-foot-10 sophomore Long completed six innings, finishing with four hits and three runs allowed, while striking five and walking three. Paul Mammino and Anthony Battaglia came out of the Seahawk bullpen to shut out NJIT over the final three frames. Mammino allowed two hits in one inning and Battaglia allowed one hit in two inning.
 
The loss went to NJIT senior Joe Fasano (3-2), who struggled, allowing eight hits and six runs, while walking one and striking out two in 2.2 innings.
 
Freshman John Saviano, did yeoman's work in relief, shutting down Wagner on two hits and a run on 6.1 innings. He retired the last 16 batters he faced and his strong effort gave the Highlanders a chance to get back closer and also helped save the rest of the bullpen for the remaining three games of the series.
 
Included in Wagner's 10 hits were a double and two home runs. Catcher and cleanup batter Nick Dini had one of the homers and was 2-for-4 with four runs batted in. CF Trey Nicosia, batting leadoff, and LF Ben Ruta joined Dini in the two-hit club. One of Ruta's hits was a double. The other Wagner home run was a two-run shot by RF Zack Yesko (1-for-4) in the third inning.
 
The Highlanders had seven hits—six singles plus a double from RF Jesse Uttendorfer (2-for-5). He was the only NJIT batter with more than one hit.
 
Wagner's Nicosia led off the game with a tapper into no man's land between third base and the pitcher's mound, getting a single when he beat the throw at first base. He stole second base and moved to third base two batters later on a fly out. Dini's two-out single through the left side of the infield put Wagner into a 1-0 lead.
 
A leadoff walk and a two-out RBI single by Nicosia put the visitors in a 2-0 advantage through the first two frames.
 
The Seahawks got a leadoff single from Ruta in the third and he came around on Dini's two-run home run. Fasano got the next two outs, but 3B Sean Mazzio kept the inning alive with a single and Yesko followed him with a two-run homer, knocking Fasano out of the game.
 
Wagner got what would be its only run of the night against Saviano, the NJIT freshman, in the fourth inning. Ruta hit a one-out double, advancing SS Nick Mascelli to third base and he soon scored on an infield out. Saviano put up zeros the rest of the way.
 
NJIT did all its scoring in the fifth against Long, who dominated the first four frames.
 
The Highlanders loaded the bases with one out, thanks to a walk to DH Evan Pietronico, and singles by LF Matt McKinnon and 2B Johnny Malatesta. Uttendorfer delivered a two-run double into the gap in left center field and CF Ed Charlton walked to reload the bases. 3B Mike Rampone smoked an infield hit to third base, bringing in another run and keeping the bases loaded, but Long snuffed the rally with a strikeout and a popup to second base.
 
The series will shift to Staten Island for a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 pm. Wagner, which has won three in a row and eight of the last 10, plays its home games at Richmond County Bank Ballpark, which is also home of the Short Season A professional Staten Island Yankees.