Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Juniors Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J.) and Kevin Fico (Stamford, Conn.) tossed back-to-back shutouts to power the Fairfield University baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Saint Peter's College this afternoon at Alumni Diamond. In the Stags' 3-0 win in the opener, Gariano tossed a one-hit, complete game shutout with a career-high 15 strikeouts. Fico, meanwhile, struck out five in Fairfield's 1-0 extra-inning victory in the night cap.

Gariano (4-3) retired the first eight batters he faced in game one, fanning four Peacocks (8-24, 2-9 MAAC), before issuing a two-out walk to Mike Garcia in the third. Gariano retired the next batter for his fifth strikeout of the day. Connor Mullee got the first hit off Gariano with a leadoff single in the top of the fourth, but he was erased on a fielder's choice by Brian Koster. The next batter, Garrett Duross flied into a double play as Koster was thrown out at first by centerfielder Bill Rafferty (Guilderland, N.Y.) as he scrambled back to the bag. Gariano dominated the rest of the way, striking out the side in both the eighth and ninth innings for his third straight start with 10 or more strikeouts.

Offensively in game one, the Stags (14-13, 5-3 MAAC) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a sac fly by David Dudish (Olney, Md.).  Fairfield added another run with two outs in the bottom of the third as Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.J.) beat out a dribbler to third base, forcing the Peacocks to make an error and allow Mark Skrapits (Bronx, N.Y.) to score on the play. The Stags added another run in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs, Rafferty was hit by a pitch and proceeded to steal second base. As he slid into second, Rafferty was hit by the throw and the ball ricocheted into the outfield allowing the junior to take third. Nathans then singled up the middle to give Fairfield the 3-0 lead.

The second game was a pitcher's duel as both teams went scoreless through the scheduled seven innings. The Stags had several opportunities to score, including a bases-loaded effort in the bottom of the sixth, but the Peacocks behind Ethan Jackson were able to hold them off.

The stalemate was broken in the bottom of the eighth as Rafferty singled up the middle off of reliever Miguel Sosa with one out. Nathans followed with a single to right field moving Rafferty over to third but a miscue by Saint Peter's on the play allowed Rafferty to score the game-winning run.

Fico (3-2) scattered six hits and two walks and struck out five in eight innings of work for his first career complete-game shutout. Sosa (1-3) took the loss, giving up one run on two hits in 1.1 innings. Jackson got the no-decision despite scattering four hits and striking out four over six innings.

Fairfield concludes the series with Saint Peter's tomorrow, April 14, at 3pm at Alumni Diamond.