Box Score 

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Fairfield University baseball team picked up its first win of the season with an 8-5 victory against Big East foe Villanova this afternoon in sunny Florida. The bats were hot for the Stags as they pounded out 14 hits, including five for extra bases.

In addition to the bats, sophomore Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J.) tossed a gem for the Stags, scattering seven hits over six innings of work and allowing two runs while striking out four Villanova (1-6) batters.

Five Stags had multi-hit days, including senior Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y.) who went 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Matt Tiagwad (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) went 2-for-5 with two RBI while rookie Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

Senior Brian Rudolph (Washington Twp., N.J.) went 2-for-4 on the afternoon with two runs scored while junior Mike Joyce (Smithtown, N.Y.) was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Fairfield (1-3) got on the board first with a three-run second inning. Senior Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) got things started with a double to right center. After advancing on a wild pitch, Allen touched home on a Mike Weiner (Easton, Conn.) double down the right field line. Rudolph followed with a single up the middle and scored on a single by Nathans. With two outs, DeSimone delivered a single through the right side to plate Nathans.

The Stags added another run in the top of the fifth inning as DeSimone scored on a double by Tiagwad. In the top of sixth, Fairfield was able to add three more runs. This time, DeSimone tripled to right field on a 1-2 pitch to drive in a pair of runs. He then scored on a single by Tiagwad to make the score 7-0

Gariano took a shutout into the sixth inning, but the Villanova bats came around as the Wildcats put up two runs on two hits. Villanova then pulled within 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run inning.

The Stags got one of the runs back in the top of the ninth as Nathans singled home Rudolph to move ahead 8-5. Sophomore Dan Urbanovich (Nutley, N.J.), despite giving up two hits, was able to retire Villanova and secure the Fairfield victory.

Urbanovich pitched two innings of relief giving up one earned run on three hits. The earned run was the first Urbanovich has allowed in 12 appearances. Sophomore Kevin Fico (Stamford, Conn.) threw one inning allowing two runs on two hits.

Fairfield continues action in Florida tomorrow, March 3, as it faces Western Michigan.