Box Score

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Senior Brian Rudolph (Washington Twp., N.J.) and sophomore David Dudish (Olney, Md.) each drove in four runs while pitcher Doug Ciallella (Clifton, N.J.) silenced the Iona College bats as the Fairfield University baseball team trampled the Gaels, 17-0, to take the series. With the win, Fairfield improves to 13-27 overall and 11-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). 

Ciallella (2-3) threw seven shutout innings with five strikeouts while scattering just five hits. Sophomore Scott Gussaroff (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.) went two innings allowing just one hit while fanning three batters to combine for the shutout. 

Dudish finished the 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored in addition to his four RBI. He was also hit by two pitches. Rudolph was 1-for-4 with two walks and two runs scored in addition to his runs batted in. 

Dudish and Rudolph were two of six Stags that had outstanding days at the plate. Senior Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y.) went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and a RBI while classmate Mike Weiner (Easton, Conn.) was 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. 

Senior Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one driven in while sophomore Matt Tiagwad (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) was 2-for-5 with a walk and three runs scored. Freshman Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) also crossed the plate three times after going 2-for-5 with a run batted in. 

The Stags' offense erupted in the second inning as they tacked seven runs on the board. Dudish was hit by a pitch to start the frame and, after a pair of Iona (2-35, 2-15 MAAC) errors, scored the first run of the game. With one out in the inning, Weiner singled to centerfield driving in Rudolph and Allen to make the score 3-0. Junior Mike Joyce (Smithtown, N.J.) followed with a double to centerfield to plate Weiner. With two outs, the Stags continued its push as Nathans singled home DeSimone to make the score 5-0. Dudish then returned to the plate and delivered an RBI single. Allen followed with an RBI single of his own to make the score 7-0 in favor of the Stags. 

Fairfield added three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. The first three Stags reached to start the frame and load the bases for Dudish. The third baseman continued to swing a hot bat, roping a single to left field to drive in a pair of runs. Allen was then hit by a pitch to reload the bases for Rudolph who drew a walk to force home a run and make the score 10-0. 

The Stags continued the offensive barrage adding seven more runs in the top of the eighth inning. After loading the bases once with no outs, Rudolph laced a double down the right field line to drive in two runs. One batter later, Weiner recorded an RBI single to make the score 13-0. Rudolph would come around to score on a single by DeSimone. The Stags then took advantage of an Iona error on a ball hit by Nathans which allowed Dave Brizzolara (Norwood, N.J.) and Pat Hoban (Malvern, Pa.) to cross the plate and extend the lead to 16-0. Dudish capped the inning off with a RBI single through the right side.

The 17 runs are the second most for the Stags this season. They scored 18 against Siena on April 13. The Stags pounded out 16 hits on the afternoon and took advantage of five Iona errors. 

Fairfield returns home on April 29 to host Sacred Heart at 3:30 p.m. before heading to Stony Brook on April 30 for its last road game of the year. The Stags will have a three game series with LeMoyne beginning on May 3.