Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Fairfield University junior Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J.) fanned six while junior Jason Rago (Fairfield, Conn.) tied the program record for hits and doubles with a 6-for-6 effort at the plate to lift the Stags to a 16-3 win against the University of Maine this afternoon at Chain of Lakes Park.

In addition to his hits, Rago drove in three runs and crossed the plate three times. Rago's six hits tied the single game record set by former Stag Albie DeSimone last season. Three of those hits were doubles which tied the single game record which has been achieved by several Stags. Gariano (1-1) picked up the win after scattering one run on six hits along with the six strikeouts in six innings of work. Freshman Scott Warwick (Quincy, Mass.) pitched three innings of relief scattering three hits while striking out three batters.

Fairfield got on the board in the top of the first inning as sophomore Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) doubled to left center to drive in junior Matt Tiagwad (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) who singled in the previous at-bat. Rago followed with a line drive to right that plated Nathans.

Rago gave the Stags a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a RBI double to leftfield which scored Tiagwad. With two on and two outs, rookie Tyler Wosleger (East Hampton, Conn.) grounded to second base but an untimely error by the Black Bears allowed both runners to score for the 5-0 Fairfield lead. The Stags then loaded the bases but were unable to capitalize.

Maine (4-5) posted a run in the top of the fourth inning on a solo homer by Kevin McAvoy. Fairfield got the run back in the bottom of the fifth after Rago scored from second base on an infield error by the Black Bears. Rookie Mark Skrapits (Bronx, N.Y.) beat out a groundball to short which allowed Bill Rafferty (Guilderland, N.Y.) to cross the plate to make the score 7-1.

The Stags continued to swing hot bats in the bottom of the sixth inning adding five runs. With one out, Nathans doubled while Rago followed with his second double of the game to plate Nathans. Junior David Dudish (Olney, Md.) brought Nathans in with an RBI single to left. With two outs, Wosleger then scored on a double by Rafferty while Rafferty trotted home on a single by sophomore Chris Horning (Potomac, Md.) to make the score 11-1. One pitch later, Horning touched home on a single by Skrapits.

The Black Bears responded in top of the seventh loading the bases twice but Maine only managed to add two runs. Rookie Ryan Furbeck (Oakland, N.J.) gave the Stags three more runs in the bottom of the eighth with a bases-loaded double to left center with one out in the inning. Furbeck later scored on a wild pitch to make the score 16-3.

Nathans went 2-for-3, both of which were doubles, with three runs scored and a RBI while Rafferty went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Horning went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI while Skrapits went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and one scored.

Fairfield will finish its stay in Florida against Bowling Green tomorrow, March 7.