by David F. Pendrys (SHU Official Box Score.)

BRIDGEPORT, CT- The Sacred Heart Pioneers picked up a win Saturday afternoon over the Wagner Seahawks by coming from behind with a two run sixth to top the visitors 6-5. SHU reliever Dan Wertz got the win after coming for Jason Foley and holding the Seahawks to 1 hit in 3 innings of work. Wagner starter Matt Morris left the game with the lead after 3 innings, but losing pitcher Nick Pavia was on the hook for the home team’s runs.

Wagner started strong when Nick Dini hit to right field, and the Pioneer fielder just missed catching it. This drove in Trey Nicosia. With the bases loaded, Tommy Mazurkiewicz grounded out but drove in Nick Mascelli. Anthony Godino came to bat and hit a weak grounder to first. The first baseman grabbed it and reached out at Godino, but the umpire ruled it wasn’t a tag. In the meantime another runner scored. Foley struck out the next two batters to end the inning with the Seahawks up 3-0.

Sacred Heart got the bats working in the second inning when PJ DeFilippo made it to first when a grounder to third was misplayed. DeFilippo stole second base, and Anthony Capozziello was walked. Cody Doyle advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, setting up a Ted Shaw sacrifice fly, scoring DeFilippo. Keaton Flint singled to right, the throw home was too high allowing Flint to get to second and Capozziello to score. Jayson Sullivan stepped in and singled up the middle scoring Flint and the game was tied. That would be it for the scoring in the inning though.

Wagner responded in the top of the third. Ben Ruta singled to right field. Dini came up to bat and homered to left field. Mazurkiewicz lined out next as Zack Short made a nice play. Foley struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.

In the bottom of the third, SHU took advantage of Short and Victor Sorrento being walked consecutively. DeFilippo bunted the runners along with a sacrifice. Wagner managed a stroke of luck catching Short in a run down after Capozziello hit a grounder. Doyle singled to drive in Sorrento.

The scoring would cease until the bottom of the sixth when Doyle was hit by a pitch. Alex Perry was brought in to pinch run for him. Shaw sacrifice bunted him to second. Flint’s grounder was mishandled by the a fielder allowing Perry to sprint home. With the game tied Pavia was pulled and Steven Bloodworth was brought in. Sullivan singled to move Flint to third. Jesus Medina grounded to third but the throw was in the dirt allowing him to reach base and for Flint to score. A double play ended the inning but the damage was done. In the top of the seventh, Wertz got the three Wagner batters out in order to end the game.

Despite the loss, Wagner’s Nick Dini became the school’s all time hits leader. Dini had 3 RBI on the day, Mazurkiewicz and Godino had 1. For SHU, Sullivan and Flint each had 2 hits. Sullivan, Medina, Doyle, Shaw, and Flint all had the RBI for the team.