March 21, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Despite some solid pitching performances from the Fairfield University baseball pitching staff, St. John's pushed across two runs in the top of the eighth inning, to break a 2-2 tie, spoiling the Stags home opener at Alumni Diamond on Tuesday afternoon.
Freshman starter Doug Ciallella (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) posted his second solid outing in a row, as he gave up only one run on two hits and a walk in four innings of work. Junior Michael Colucci (Bayonne, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) was also sparkling for the Stags (4-9) as he gave up one run on four hits in three innings of relief. Senior Dan Breen (Troy, N.Y./Troy) took the loss as he gave up two runs on three hits in two innings.
As temperatures reached into the high 30's, both teams benefited from solid pitching, as the Red Storm (9-7) received four and a third innings from Colin Lynch. Lynch gave up two runs on three hits and two walks. Justin Muir who relieved Lynch in the fifth went the rest of the way to record his first win of the season.
Fairfield broke the ice in the bottom of the first inning, as senior first baseman John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia) lofted a sacrifice fly to centerfield, plating junior second baseman Brian Schappert (Wyckoff, N.J./Saint Joseph's University) who led off the inning with a single down the left field line.
The Red Storm tied the game in the top of the third inning, when Gil Zayas smacked his third homerun of the season to left field.
In the home half of the fifth inning, Schappert's sacrifice-fly to center brought sophomore designated hitter Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) home to make it 2-1 Fairfield, after reaching on a fielder's choice.
The score would remain the same until the top of the seventh, with Anthony Smith's pinch-hit single to right, plated Chris Anninos. St. John's broke the tie in the eighth, when Sam DeLuca's two-run single made it 4-2, in favor of the Red Storm.
The Stags had a chance in the bottom of the ninth, when senior catcher Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) singled, and senior third baseman Dewey Raymond (Norwalk, Conn./Trinity Catholic) reached on an error, to bring the winning run to the plate. But Muir was able to get the next to hitters out, to end the game.
Schappert led Fairfield at the plate, as he was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in. It was the seventh time this season that the Saint Joseph's transfer, has had a multi-hit game for the Stags.
Fairfield continues its six-game home stand on Wednesday, as it welcomes Central Connecticut State to Alumni Diamond. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
Following the CCSU game, the Stags will open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a three-game series with LeMoyne. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. The series finale is slated for Sunday at 12 p.m.
