Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Senior Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y.) and freshman Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) each had four hits, including a homerun, to help lift the Fairfield University baseball team to a 13-3 victory over Niagara University this evening. With the win, the Stags improve to 3-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and to 5-14 overall while the Purple Eagles drop to 8-9 on the year and 1-3 in the league.

DeSimone finished the day 4-for-6, which included his second homer and third double of the year, along with three RBI and three runs scored. Nathans went 4-for-5, including his first collegiate homerun, with a walk, three runs scored, and three RBI.

Sophomores Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J.) and Kevin Fico (Stamford, Conn.) combined for the five-hitter against Niagara. Gariano (3-2), the reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Week, earned the win after scattering three runs, two earned, on three hits over six innings while striking out eight batters. Fico earned his first save of the season after an impressive three innings in which he allowed just two hits and struck out seven batters.

Junior Mike Joyce (Smithtown, N.Y.) and sophomore Jason Rago (Fairfield, Conn.) also had multi-hit days for Fairfield. Joyce went 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Rago went 2-for-4, with a double and a run scored.

The Stags had a steady stream of offense, pounding out 14 hits and drawing seven walks while scoring in five different innings.

Niagara took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning but Fairfield quickly tied the game in the top of the second as Nathans scored on a fielder's choice by Mike Bourdon (Simsbury, Conn.). The Stags took the lead in the top of the third as DeSimone scored on a single by senior Brian Rudolph (Washington Twp., N.J.). The lead was short-lived as the Purple Eagles added two runs in the bottom of the frame to go on top, 3-2. Those would be the last two runs Niagara would score as Gariano and Fico would hold the Purple Eagles scoreless the rest of the way.

Fairfield took the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning as it tacked three runs on the board. Sophomore Matt Tiagwad (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) got things started with a leadoff single to left center. With two on and one out, Nathans stepped to the plate and launched a three-run homer to right center to make the score 5-3.

The Stags added four more runs in the top of the seventh. Two of the runs came off the bat of DeSimone who homered to right field with two outs in the inning. Fairfield also added four more runs in the top of the ninth inning.

Fairfield wraps up the series with Niagara tomorrow, March 30, with a doubleheader.