March 20, 2003
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team fell to Central Connecticut State University 7-4, on Thursday afternoon at Balf Savin Baseball Field, in New Britain. The game was called after seven innings due to rain, and darkness.
Rain fell throughout the games as the Stags (2-6) posted a pair of runs in the first and fifth innings. But, CCSU crossed the plate on four unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs and a man on third, the Blue Devils took advantage of a throwing error and three straight hits to up its lead to 6-2.
Junior Antuan Barnett (Bronx, NY/Rice) went 1-for-3 on the afternoon, with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, after freshman Doug Anderson (Randolph, NJ/Delbarton) knocked a leadoff single to leftfield.
CCSU (4-3) came back in the bottom of the first crossing the plate two times, when Phil Rothkugel smacked a two-run home run to left center field.
Jake Rudder (1-0) would hold the Stags scoreless for the next three innings, and was helped by the fourth inning outburst by the Blue Devil bats. He pitched a complete game scattering four hits and three earned runs while striking out three Stags on the afternoon.
Fairfield freshman Steve Tyburski (Feasterville, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) gave up six runs, including two earned runs in four innings pitched, taking his first collegiate loss. The 6-foot-2 right handed struck out four hitters on the afternoon.
Fairfield returns to action for the first time at Alumni Diamond, with a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series against Siena College. The series starts with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch slated for 12 p.m.
