Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team put up four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the Stags saw their rally fall short as Saint Peter's College eked out a 9-8 win at Alumni Diamond this afternoon.

Down 9-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) led the frame off with a single. With one out, Matt Tiagwad (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) singled to third while David Dudish (Olney, Md.) beat out the back end of a double play to put runners at first and second. After Mike Joyce (Smithtown, N.Y.) drew a walk to load the bases, rookie Nick Piccirillo (Trumbull, Conn.) delivered a single to left to drive in Nathans but a misplay by the left fielder allowed Dudish and Joyce to score as well. Piccirillo later advanced to third on a wild pitch and came around to score on a single up the middle by Carmine DeVito (Plainview, N.Y.). DeVito then advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs and 3-2 count, freshman Mark Skrapits (Bronx, N.Y.) appeared to have grounded into a routine out to second base, but Justyn Carter booted the ball allowing Skrapits to reach. DeVito, meanwhile, rounded third and headed for home, but Carter was able to recover and throw him out at the plate to end the game.

Saint Peter's (9-24; 3-9 MAAC) led 9-0 after five innings but Fairfield (14-14; 5-4 MAAC) began to chip at the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Piccirillo notched his first collegiate hit with an RBI double to left field which plated Jason Rago (Fairfield, Conn.). The Stags added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh as Bill Rafferty (Guilderland, N.Y.) singled home Skrapits. With the bases loaded, Tiagwad grounded into a double play but Rafferty was able to trot home to make the score 9-3. Fairfield tacked on another run in the bottom of the eight as DeVito singled to right field to plate Joyce.

The Stags pounded out 15 hits but stranded 11 baserunners while the Peacocks collected 12 hits and stranded 11.

Piccirillo went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored while DeVito went 2-for-2 with two RBI after checking into the game in the eighth inning. Rafferty, Skrapits, Nathans, and Dudish each posted two hits and a run scored.

Junior Scott Gussaroff (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.) took the loss, giving up six runs, four earned, on eight hits in 4.1 innings. Freshman Scott Warwick (Quincy, Mass.) pitched two scoreless and hitless innings. Kyle Goldstein (Southbury, Conn.) and Brian Comiskey (Coram, N.Y.) both work an inning and allowed a hit apiece.

Fairfield returns to action on April 15 when it travels to Yale for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30pm.