Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team was edged by Big East foe UConn, 5-4, this afternoon in the Stags' home opener at Alumni Diamond. Fairfield flashed its leather turning the team's first triple play in more than 20 years.

The triple play came in the sixth inning as the Huskies (6-7) got the first two runners on to start the frame against relief pitcher Scott Warwick (Quincy, Mass.). Warwick induced a line drive to second baseman Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) who flipped to shortstop Mark Skrapits (Bronx, N.Y.) who then went on to first to complete the triple play. The last time the Stags turned a triple play was in 1988 and before that it was 1984.

UConn got on the board in the third inning as Matt Burnett scored on a groundout by Mike Olt. The Stags (3-8) answered in the bottom half of the frame by putting runs on the board. With two on and one out, rookie Ryan Furbeck (Oakland, N.J.) laced a single to left field to score Chris Horning (Potomac, Md.). Junior Matt Tiagwad (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) followed with a single up the middle to plate freshman Tyler Wosleger (East Hampton, Conn.) and give the Stags a 2-1 lead.

The Huskies went back on top in the top of the fifth as Peter Fatse hit a three-run homer to right centerfield to give UConn the 4-2 advantage. The Huskies added another run in the top of the seventh at Fatse scored from third on a pitch in the dirt that bounced away from Horning.

The Stags came back in the bottom of the seventh as Skrapits sliced a single through the left side to score Bill Rafferty (Guilderland, N.Y.) make the score 5-3. Furbeck then pulled the Stags within 5-4 with an RBI single to second base which scored Horning.

Horning went 2-for-2 on the day, was hit by two pitches, and scored a pair of runs. Furbeck finished the day 2-for-5 with two RBI.

Freshman Sam Robertson (Ridgefield, Conn.) took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits while fanning seven batters in five innings of work. Warwick pitched 3.1 innings allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout.

Senior Dan Gallagher (Allendale, N.J.) made his 52nd career appearance in the ninth getting UConn to ground into an inning-ending double play. Gallagher is currently second all-time in appearances and is four behind career leader Dan Breen who had 56.

Fairfield heads to St. John's on March 17 before returning home to host Quinnipiac on March 19. The Stags open MAAC play on March 21 with a doubleheader against Siena.