FARMVILLE, VA. – After picking up two hits in the first two games of the series, Wagner's Nick Mascelli tied his career high with four hits and two RBI as the Seahawks outlasted Longwood 6-4 to avoid a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon.

"It was a disappointing way to close out the weekend," head coach Ryan Mau said after the loss. "We have to do a better job of putting away a team after taking Friday and Saturday and we didn't do it today."

The Lancers (2-4) had held Wagner to three runs in the first 19 innings of the weekend before Wagner (1-2) struck for three runs in the second inning off of Longwood starter Zach Potojecki (0-2). Mascelli drove in the final run of the inning with a single back up the middle, his first of four singles in what was a 4-for-5 game.

Mascelli wore out Longwood the entire series. The junior infielder was 2-for-4 Friday and 2-for-5 Saturday, hitting .571 (8-for-14) with three RBI in the three-game set. All eight of the hits for Mascelli were singles.

Mascelli, the lead-off hitter, led an offensive charge from the top four hitters, who combined for 11 of Wagner's 15 hits, all of which were singles. Of the 32 hits Wagner picked up in the series only two were extra-base hits, both doubles.

Trailing by three runs in the seventh inning, Longwood had gone scoreless since scoring two runs in the first inning. The Lancers loaded the bases with no outs trailing 5-2 in the seventh inning and scored two runs to cut the deficit to 5-4. Trailing 6-4 in the ninth inning the Lancers brought the tying run to the plate after Sammy Miller started the frame with a single, but the sophomore was stranded on second base after the next three batters for Longwood went down in order.

The big inning for Wagner was the three-run second inning and came one half inning after Longwood got on the board. The Lancers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a two-out two-run double by Connar Bastaich. The senior first baseman picked up three RBI in the series after hitting a solo home run Saturday.

"I thought we did a great job coming out early and getting two runs, but unfortunately it's back-to-back games where we didn't get the starting pitching I thought we needed," Mau said. "It's a big momentum shift when you score and give it right back. It took the wind out of our sails and even though we tried to rally late we ran out of time."

For Longwood Potojecki took the loss for Longwood after allowing three runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings with one strikeout.

Douglas Molnar (1-0) picked up the win for Wagner after pitching the middle three innings. Molnar pitched into the seventh inning, but was replaced before recording an out. In all the junior righty allowed two runs, one earned, in 3.0 innings on five hits with one walk allowed. Matt Morris started the game and received no decisions after allowing two runs in three innings of work.

The Lancers scored a total of 14 runs over the three games, seven runs scoring with two outs. Bastaich's double put the total to six with his two-out two-run double in the first inning and was at the plate when the seventh of the series crossed. Bastaich struck out with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, but a passed ball allowed the run to score and everyone to move up a base.

The Lancers rotated in many young players as a total of five freshman got playing time Sunday, four on the mound. Steven Farkas made his season debut in relief of Potojecki. Cody Boydstun then followed, making his second appearance of the season, followed by Eric Harp in his Longwood debut, before Jon Peterson took to the mound for the second time this season.

"We saw some good things and hopefully those younger guys can learn and benefit from it," Mau said. "We have a lot of new faces who are still trying to learn their roles. They have to get comfortable and try to find a way to contribute for us this year and we're going to need them."
 
The four freshman combined to go 5.2 innings pitched with three runs allowed, two earned, on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
 
Freshman catcher Carlos Garrido got into the action in the top of the third inning as a defensive replacement in place of starting backstop Mac McCafferty. The junior slid into second base on a steal attempt in the second inning and was helped off with an apparent leg injury.

Longwood returns to the field Tuesday to host VCU. First pitch for Longwood and VCU is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday and Buddy Bolding Stadium.

#GoWood