Baseball Shutout by Wagner on Friday

The Central Connecticut baseball team was stymied by Wagner and the pitching of Nolan Long on Friday afternoon at Richmond County Stadium on Staten Island, NY. The Seahawks won the opener of the four-game Northeast Conference series, 12-0.

The loss drops CCSU to 12-21 overall and 5-8 in the NEC. Wagner improves to 17-15-1 overall and 6-3 in the NEC. 

The Seahawks gave Long all the run support he would need by plating five runs in the bottom of the first inning. The first six batters each reached base and a three-run double by Nick Dini did the most damage to give Wagner a 5-0 lead after the first inning.

Wagner tacked on four runs in the bottom of the third. A pair of two out singles and and a bases-loaded walk helped build the Seahawks' lead to 9-0.

Long was in command all afternoon, striking out seven Blue Devils in the first three innings. Juniors Ian Glassman and Connor Fitzsimons tried to get things going for Central in the top of the fifth when they led off with back-to-back singles, but Long proceeded to strike out the next three batters and leave them stranded.

Long earned the win, going 6.0 innings and finishing with 13 strikeouts, while allowing just three hits and one walk. Nick Mascelli had four hits at the plate.

Fitzsimons finished with two hits for Central Connecticut. Sophomore Matt Blandino started for CCSU and took the loss.

The teams continue the four-game series with a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. at Richmond County Ballpark in Staten Island, NY.