Feb. 25, 2006
HARRISONBURG, Va. - Rob Altieri went 4-for-5 with three runs batted in and three runs scored, and Kellen Kulbacki went 3-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored, to lead James Madison University to an 18-3 win over the Fairfield University baseball team at Long Field at Mauk Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Senior shortstop Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton) led Fairfield (0-2) going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Anderson scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning, off a passed ball by JMU (2-4) pitcher Greg Nesbitt. Senior third baseman Dewey Raymond (Norwalk, Conn./Trinity Catholic) scored the Stags' second run of the afternoon, when sophomore Tyler Birrittella (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) reached on an error by JMU shortstop Davis Stoneburner.
Fairfield junior second baseman, Brian Schappert (Wycoff, N.J./Saint Joseph's University) grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring sophomore designated hitter Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck). JMU would commit three of its five errors on the day in the second inning.
The Dukes would put two runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning, when Michael Cowgill smacked a two-run homerun off Fairfield starter junior Ed Kamintzky (Astoria, N.Y./Regis).
Kamintzky (0-1) struck out six James Madison hitters, as he kept the Dukes in check for the first five innings, allowing only two runs on five hits, before running into trouble in the sixth. Nesbitt (1-1) recorded his first win of the season, as he tossed six innings of three runs (one earned) ball, while striking out seven batters.
Trailing 3-2, heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, JMU exploded for six runs on six hits, to take an 8-3 lead. First baseman Nate Schill got the offense going with a homerun that hugged the right field line. Then after a pair base hits, Dan Santobianco smacked a two-run double to left centerfield. Alteri's single drove in Santobianco, and Mitchell Moses ripped a bases loaded single to put two more runs on the board for the Dukes.
James Madison would add four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning off run scoring doubles from Altieri, and Joe Lake, and a two-run homerun from Kulbacki. The Dukes added six runs in their final at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The series concludes on Sunday afternoon with a 12 p.m. first pitch at Long Field at Mauk Stadium. Freshman Doug Ciallella (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) is slated to make his first collegiate start for the Stags. JMU will counter with sophomore Ryan Reid, who is 0-1 on the season with a 1.80 ERA.
