Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team's ninth-inning rally fell short as Niagara University edged the Stags 5-4 at Alumni Diamond this afternoon. Senior Dan Gallagher (Allendale, N.J.) came on in relief in eighth inning notching his 57th career appearance for the Stags and setting the program record.

In his record-setting outing, Gallagher went two innings with a strikeout. He broke the career appearance record of 56 set by Dan Breen in 2006.

With the loss Fairfield had its nine-game winning streak snapped as the Stags fall to 12-10 overall and 3-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Purple Eagles improve to 8-18 overall and 4-3 in the league.

Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, freshman Mark Skrapits (Bronx, N.Y.) started things off by reaching on an error. After rookie Ryan Furbeck (Oakland, N.J.) advanced Skrapits with a sac bunt, junior Bill Rafferty (Guilderland, N.Y.) appeared to have struck out, but the third strike bounced off the plate allowing Rafferty to reach. After Rafferty stole second base, Niagara intentionally walked reigning MAAC Player of the Week Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.). With the bases loaded, the Purple Eagles' Adam Wagner got Matt Tiagwad (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) to pop-up to short for the second out. Niagara ended the rally one pitch later as Skrapits got caught in a rundown after trying to advance on a ball the popped away from the catcher.

Junior Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J.) took the loss, allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out 10 batters. It is the second-straight start in which Gariano has fanned 10 or more batters. Niagara's Marcus Spaulding got the win, going eight innings and allowing four runs on six hits. Wagner picked up his second save of the season.

The Stags opened the game with a four-run first inning. Furbeck led off with a walk and came around to score on a single by Mike Joyce (Smithtown, N.Y.). With two on and two out, designated hitter Carmine DeVito (Plainview, N.Y.) tripled to right center to plate Joyce and Tiagwad. Junior David Dudish (Olney, Md.) made the score 4-0 with a double down the leftfield line.

Niagara got two of the runs back in the top of the second off the bat of Brian Deering who singled to right field to knock in the runs. The Purple Eagles took the lead in the top of the sixth inning with a three-run effort. With two on and one out, Wynton Bernard tied the game with a double to deep left center to score Tim Cozier and Stephen Smith. Matt Lucchesi followed with an RBI single through the left side to give Niagara the 5-4 lead.

Dudish went 2-for-4 on the day while Joyce went 1-for-2 with two walks, a run scored, and an RBI for the Stags. For the Purple Eagles, Bernard finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Deering also had two hits and two runs batted in.

Due to the inclement weather, Fairfield and Niagara will now play a doubleheader on April 5 beginning at noon. The first game will last seven innings while the second will be a nine-inning game.