March 5, 2006
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
BRONX, N.Y. - Senior first baseman John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a run batted in, and junior Ed Kamintzky (Astoria, N.Y./Regis) tossed a gem, for the Fairfield University baseball team Sunday, in the second game of a doubleheader split against Fordham, at Houlihan Park at Jack Coffey Field.
After the first two games of the series were postponed on Friday and Saturday, the teams played a pair of nine-inning games on Sunday. Fordham (3-5) took the opener 12-7, and the Stags (1-4) came back to win the nightcap, 10-1, for their first win of the 2006 campaign.
Kamintzky (1-1) was sharp in his second start of the season, keeping the Rams at bay and off the scoreboard. He allowed only one run on four hits and two walks, while striking out a career-high 10 hitters. Kamintzky retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, before giving up a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Fairfield put the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning, off the bat of senior catcher Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian). Arpino lofted a sacrifice fly to centerfield, bringing in senior shortstop Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton).
The Rams tied it in the fourth inning, when shortstop John Kahn singled through the left side of the Fairfield infield plating Danny Leach who doubled down the right field line.
Fairfield broke the game open in the top of the fifth, crossing the plate eight times on four errors and four walks, by the Rams' defense. Senior third baseman Dewey Raymond (Norwalk, Conn./Trinity Catholic) scored on a wild pitch, after drawing a leadoff walk.
The Stags would add two more runs, when senior centerfielder Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) singled to right field. On the play, junior second baseman Brian Schappert (Wyckoff, N.J./Saint Joseph's University) and sophomore left fielder Tyler Birrittella (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) scored, off a throwing error by the Fordham right fielder.
Girolamo stole third and came home on a throwing error by the catcher. His run chased Fordham starter Javier Martinez who took the loss. Martinez (1-2) finished with six runs on one hit and seven walks. After the pitching change, Scaife ripped a single to right field, to drive in Anderson. Then, after an Arpino walk, Allen smacked a double down the left field line, scoring Scaife. Arpino moved to third and would come home, on an RBI groundout by Raymond. Allen finished the scoring for the Stags on an error by the catcher.
Fairfield would add one more run in the top of the ninth, when Raymond hit into a fielder's choice, bringing in Scaife for his second run of the game.
Fordham broke the first game of the afternoon open, in the first inning, scoring seven runs. The Rams got an RBI single from Brian Keeney, an RBI-double by Eric Reese, an RBI single from John Mollicone, an RBI-single by Jordan Lert, a bases loaded walk to Robert Iacono and a two-run double by Danny Leach.
After Fordham posted a pair of runs in the second and fourth innings, the Stags would push across five runs in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded Girolamo's ground out, enabled sophomore right fielder Adam Chilelli (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) to score.
Then with one-out, Scaife reached on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Birrittella to come around to score. That brought Arpino to the plate, and his base hit to right scored Schappert. Allen continued his hot start to the season, with a two-run single to center, scoring Arpino and Scaife.
But, Fordham scored once in the sixth, and two in the seventh, before Fairfield scored two in its last at-bat in the ninth. With two outs and the bases loaded Birrettella reached on an error by the Fordham first baseman, scoring Arpino who singled up the middle, and Scaife who singled to right field.
Fordham starter Cory Riordan (1-1) allowed five runs (one earned) on nine hits, while striking out four hitters. Fairfield starter Paul DeMarco (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Duke University) struggled giving up nine runs. DeMarco (0-2) also struck out two hitters in three and a third innings.
Schappert led the Stags at the plate, going 3-for-6 with a run scored. Arpino also had a solid game at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in. Fairfield pounded out 14 hits in the first game. On the afternoon, the Stag offense accounted for 17 runs on 18 hits.
The two teams will meet again on Wednesday, April 12 at Alumni Diamond.
The Stags return to action on Sunday, March 12 against Duquesne University, in Bradenton, Fla. First pitch is slated for 10:30 a.m. at the IMG Sports Academy. Fairfield is slated to play seven games in six days, during its trip to the "Sunshine State."
