Box Score

STORRS, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team suffered a tough 14-5 loss to Big East foe UConn, this afternoon at J.O. Christian Field. 

Offensively for the Stags, freshman Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) finished the day 2-for-5, extending his hitting streak to nine games, while driving in two runs and scoring another. Sophomore David Dudish (Olney, Md.) went 2-for-2 with runs scored while sophomore Jason Rago (Fairfield, Conn.) went 2-for-3 with a run scored. 

The Huskies (15-12) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run homerun by Elliott Glynn to take the early lead. Fairfield (5-18) threatened in the top of the fifth inning, putting a runner on first and third with one out, but the Stags were unable to score. UConn then added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Gordon Stevens crossed the plate on a ground ball by Glynn. 

The Stags were able to get on the board in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, Nathans singled up the middle and Rago followed with a single to second. After a wild pitch moved the runners up one base, senior Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) singled to centerfield to clear the bases and make the score, 3-2. UConn answered in the bottom of the sixth, tacking on three runs to take a 6-2 lead. 

Fairfield got two of the runs back in the top of the seventh. Dudish got things started with a lead-off walk. Rookie Chris Horning (Potomac, Md.) followed with a single for his first collegiate hit. Senior Pat Hoban (Malvern, Pa.) then loaded the bases with a single of his own. After UConn's Trent DeLazzer struck out the next two batters, Nathans delivered a single to left center to drive in two runs and pull the Stags within 6-4. 

The Huskies broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh by scoring eight runs. Four of the runs came off the bat of Mike Olt whose grand slam made the score, 14-4. The Stags added a final run in the top of the eighth inning as Horning drove in Dudish with a single for the catcher's first career RBI. 

Starter Kevin Fico (Stamford, Conn.) went five innings allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits, while striking out three batters in the loss. Freshman Dan Belding (Holbrook, N.Y.) made his collegiate debut on the mound, throwing a scoreless eighth inning. 

Fairfield had 11 hits on the afternoon but left nine runners stranded. 

Fairfield continues its 10-game road swing and resumes Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play, April 5-6, at Saint Peter's.