May 22, 2006

SOMERSET, NJ - Sophomore lhp Joe Testa (Brick, NJ / Brick) and freshman Pete Delleani (Manalapan, NJ / CBA) were named the Akadema Northeast Conference (NEC) Pitcher and Rookie of the Week, respectively, for the week of May 15-21 the pair helped lead Wagner to a three-game sweep of Monmouth and a berth in the NEC Baseball Championships.

Testa earned his second NEC honor of the year after tossing a complete-game three-hitter in Wagner's game two 2-1 victory against Monmouth on Saturday, May 20. He struck out 11 batters, while giving up just three walks and one earned run. Testa has fanned 88 batters thus far in the season to lead the NEC while surpassing the Wagner single-season strikeout-record of 84 previously set by teammate redshirt-junior rhp Andrew Bailey (Haddon Heights, NJ / Paul VI) in 2004. Testa is currently 6-4 with a 4.76 ERA. During conference play he has been nearly unbeatable, posting a 6-1 record with a 3.24 ERA, 59 K's and four complete games. He is also 7.1 innings away from matching the single-season school record of 86.2 innings set in 1953 held by legendary Wagner hurler Don Finley.

Delleani batted a blistering .667 (4-6) with two runs, one RBI and two doubles in helping Wagner sweep Monmouth in a three-game series last weekend (May 20-21) to claim the last NEC Tournament spot. He also posted a 1.000 slugging percentage against the Hawks. In doubleheader action on Saturday, May 20, the rookie second baseman went 1-2 with a double in the 3-1 opening game victory and then was 1-2 with a run in the 2-1 nightcap victory. On Sunday, May 21, with both MU and Wagner battling for a tournament berth, Delleani went 2-2 with a double, run and a RBI to help Wagner to a 6-5 extra-inning victory. On the season, he is hitting .220 with 17 runs, five doubles, a team-high three triples, one home run and 21 RBI. In conference-play, he is hitting .254.

The third-seeded Seahawks will take on No. 2 Quinnipiac in the NEC Tournament on Thursday, May 25 at 3:30 pm at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, NJ.