March 13, 2006
BRADENTON, Fla. - Senior centerfielder Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) was 4-for-6 with six runs batted in and three runs scored, and senior John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia) went 3-for-5 with a homerun and five runs batted in, as the Fairfield University baseball team, defeated Valparaiso University 20-11 on Monday morning at the IMG Sports Academy.
In addition, junior second baseman Brian Schappert (Wyckoff, N.J./Saint Joseph's University) went 3-for-5 with four runs scored, as the Stags improve to 2-5 on the season and 1-1 on their trip to Florida. Valparaiso falls to 2-7 on the year.
Senior catcher Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) also had three hits for the Stags, as he was 3-for-6 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Pinch hitter sophomore Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) had two hits, two runs scored, and a run batted in, and sophomore right fielder Adam Chilelli (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) had a pair of hits and three runs scored.
Fairfield broke the game open with a 12-run sixth inning. Fairfield sent 16 batters to the plate in the inning, and pounded out 12 hits, 11 of which were singles.
Valpo led 3-1 heading into the fifth inning, before the Stags added three in the fifth inning, and 12 in the sixth to break the game open. They would also add three in the seventh and one run in the eighth.
Fairfield starter Paul DeMarco (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Duke University) picked up his first win in over two years, as he tossed six innings, giving up three runs on three hits, while striking out three. DeMarco, a transfer from Duke, won for the first time since May 5, 2003 when the Blue Devils defeated No. 14 Clemson University.
Harvey Yergin took the loss for the Crusaders as he gave up eight runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings of work. Valpo trotted out five pitchers on the day, as the Fairfield offense pounded out 19 hits against Valpo pitching.
Fairfield returns to the IMG Sports Academy diamond, on Tuesday, with a split doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky at 8 a.m. and Eastern Illinois at 3 p.m.
Notes... The last time Fairfield scored 20 or more runs in a game, was April 3, 2005 at home against Saint Peter's ... The Stags set a school-record for runs in a game, en route to a 29-10 win over the Peacocks ... Fairfield is now 2-0 all-time against Valparaiso ... The five runs batted in for Sciafe gives him 82 for his career ... Girolamo had six RBI today, the school-record for RBI in one game is eight which is held by Paul Macchio (4/5/99) and Sean Easton (4/8/99) ... Fairfield's 12-run sixth inning is two shy of the school's mark for the most runs scored in one inning ... On April 5, 1986 against Saint Peter's, Fairfield crossed the plate 14 times in the third inning.
