Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn.  - The Fairfield University baseball team finished off the season series with Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Siena College with an exciting 10-8 win at Alumni Diamond this afternoon to complete the sweep and move to 3-0 in the league and 6-9 overall.

The Stags pounded out 15 hits on the day. Freshman Mark Skrapits (Bronx, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored while sophomore Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Catcher Chris Horning (Potomac, Md.) also collected three hits on the day while rookie Ryan Furbeck (Oakland, N.J.) went 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBI.

Furbeck led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and then stole second base to get into scoring position. With one out, Nathans delivered a single through the right side to score Furbeck and give Fairfield the 1-0 lead. After swiping second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, Nathans trotted home on a Rafferty single though the hole at short.

The Stags threatened in the bottom of the second inning putting runners on first and second with two outs. Nathans launched one that appeared to be headed for the left field corner when Siena's Nick Messinger sprawled out to make the diving catch to end the inning.

After retiring the first seven batters he faced, Scott Gussaroff (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.) allowed the Saints (2-18, 0-3 MAAC) to load the bases with two outs in the top of the third. He got out of a jam as Dan Paolini popped up to second base. Gussaroff went on to retire the next nine batters he faced over next three innings.

In the bottom half of the inning, junior Jason Rago (Fairfield, Conn.) was hit by a pitch to start the frame and came around to score on a single to center by Horning, making the score 3-0. Fairfield added another run in the bottom of the fourth as Nathans singled up the middle to plate Skrapits.

The Stags took a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning posting two runs. Skrapits, who drew a walk to start the inning, scored on a wild pitch to notch the first run. Furbeck scored the second tally by sliding head first into home to beat the throw from the outfield on Nathans' single.

Siena got the bats around on Gussaroff in the top of the seventh stringing together three hits and a walk to start the inning and pull within 6-3. With two outs and the bases loaded, Anthony Giansanti tied the game up with a base-clearing triple to centerfield. Kevin Quaranto put the Saints on top, 7-6, with a double to leftfield off of reliever Dan Gallagher (Allendale, N.J.).

Fairfield responded in the bottom half of the inning as Furbeck doubled to center to score Horning and Skrapits and put the Stags back on top, 8-7. Tiagwad followed with a double to right field to plate Furbeck who slid under the tag at home to make the score 9-7. With two on and two outs in the top of the eighth, a Fairfield miscue allowed Siena to pull within 9-8. The Stags added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as David Dudish (Olney, Md.) lead off the stanza with a double and scored on a Siena error. Reliever Justin Servino (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.) was able to shut the door on the Saints in the top of the ninth for his second save of the year.

Gallagher (1-1), who made his 54th career appearance, picked up the win by going 1.1 innings, allowing one earned run on just three hits. Gallagher is two appearances away from tying the career record held by Dan Breen.

Fairfield is back on Alumni Diamond on March 24 as the Stags host Sacred Heart at 3:30pm.