NEW YORK (Interstat) — Wagner erupted for four runs in the seventh inning to break a tie and defeat Mercyhurst 8-3 in the first game of a Northeast Conference doubleheader Friday.

The Seahawks improved to 27-23 overall, while the Lakers dropped to 15-32. Wagner starter Justin Roitman worked six innings and allowed three unearned runs on four hits, striking out five and walking two. He was replaced by Jeff Tiw, who faced one batter before Christopher Collina took over. Matthew Moconyi pitched a scoreless ninth to close the game.

Mercyhurst starter Andrew Malec allowed two runs in the first inning, one earned, but settled down to retire 11 of 12 batters before exiting with a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning after allowing a leadoff double. He was charged with three runs on five hits over 5.1 innings, walking two and striking out four. Noah Ehlers and Zac Evenson followed in relief.

The game began with Wagner scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Lukas Torres walked, advanced on a fielding error by Mercyhurst shortstop Ranciel Ventura and then moved up on a passed ball. Diego Tavarez lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Torres. After a strikeout, Dylan Immel doubled to left-center, driving in Matt Sutera, who had reached on the error.

Mercyhurst took the lead in the fourth inning with three unearned runs. Zac Kourous walked, stole second and third, and scored on a two-base fielding error by Immel. Luke Babcock walked and, after a fielder’s choice, scored on a throwing error by third baseman Jayden Alvarez. Mike Samarin, who had reached on Immel’s error, scored on a single by Zac Black.

The Lakers maintained the lead until the sixth. Tavarez doubled to right field to start the inning, and after a strikeout, Immel doubled to right-center, scoring Tavarez to tie the game at 3-3.

Wagner then broke open the game in the seventh. Torres was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a single by Sutera. Tavarez doubled down the left-field line, scoring Torres. Joseph Mennella followed with a two-run single through the right side, scoring Tavarez and Sutera to make it 7-3.

The Seahawks added a run in the eighth. Josiah Ross singled, moved to third on a single by Andrew Marquis and scored on a groundout by pinch-hitter Emmett Coco.

Mercyhurst managed four hits in the game. Jayden Walker doubled and singled, while Samarin added a single. Zac Black had a single and an RBI.

For Wagner, Tavarez finished with two doubles and three RBIs. Immel doubled twice and drove in two runs. Mennella had two hits and two RBIs. Ross had a single, a stolen base and an RBI. Sutera scored twice.

The win avenged a 6-4 loss to Mercyhurst on Thursday in the series opener. Wagner and Mercyhurst were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Friday.

No betting line or over-under was posted for the contest.