March 22, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Brett Chachko pitched five shutout innings, to help Central Connecticut State, get past the Fairfield University baseball team, 6-1, on a cold and blustery Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Diamond.
Central Connecticut State (9-3) put the first run of the afternoon on the board, in the top of the fourth inning, when first baseman Adam Taha's base hit to centerfield, plated third baseman Matt Memoli who walked, and stole second.
The Blue Devils tacked on three more in the fifth, with back-to-back RBI doubles from Sean Salvatore and Jay Schillaci. Memoli added a single to plate Schillaci.
The lone bright spot for the Stags (4-10) came from freshman Dan Gallagher (Allendale, N.J./Bergen Catholic), who pitched three innings of scoreless baseball. Gallagher, came on in relief of senior Steve Tyburski (Feasterville, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep), who was touched for four runs on six hits.
After today's outing, Gallagher has not allowed a run in seven and two-thirds innings, and he has not allowed an earned run in 12 and two-thirds innings. He gave up one hit, and struck out the first batter he faced.
The Blue Devils would add a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning, off freshman Joe Pijanowski (Mountainside, N.J./Gov. Livingston).
Fairfield scored in its last at-bat in the bottom of the ninth inning. Senior centerfielder Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) drew a walk, and then senior shortstop Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton) roped a single to center field. After two pop ups, senior third baseman Dewey Raymond (Norwalk, Conn./Trinity Catholic) singled to right, to bring Girolamo in from second base.
Junior Brian Schappert (Wyckoff, N.J./Saint Joseph's University) also had a base hit for the Stags.
The two teams will play again on Thursday, March 30, in New Britain, Conn. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
Fairfield opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this weekend with a three-game series against LeMoyne. Saturday the two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m., and the series will conclude on Sunday with a single nine-inning game, at 12 p.m.
