March 25, 2007
BRONX, N.Y. - Junior Ryan Calabrese (Wantagh, N.Y.) pitched a complete game shutout to power the Fairfield baseball team to a 1-0 victory against Niagara in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opener for both teams at Houlihan Park. With the win, the Stags (2-8, 1-0 MAAC) snapped their seven-game skid.
Calabrese (2-2) scattered five hits over nine innings of work. He had two strikeouts and did not walk a single batter. The Fairfield defense played well not allowing a Niagara runner to reach third base during the entire game.
Calabrese and the Stags' defense also stopped Niagara's hot-hitting Tim Alberts, who had his 35-game hitting streak snapped by going 0-4 on the day.
Fairfield struck first in the bottom of the second inning for the game's only run. Junior Brian Rudolph (Washington Twp, N.J.) and sophomore Michael Joyce (Smithtown, N.Y.) both walked to set runners at first and second with two outs. Rookie David Dudish (Olney, Md.) then stepped to the plate and singled through the right side to score Rudolph and give the Stags the 1-0 lead.
The Stags threatened in the bottom of the fourth, but Niagara's MarkWilson was able to pitch himself out of a bases loaded jam. With one out in the inning, back-to-back errors by the Purple Eagles allowed Rudolph and catcher Mike Weiner (Easton, Conn.) to reach base. Joyce then drew a walk to load the bases. After getting Dudish to pop out, rookie Bill Rafferty (Schenectady, N.Y.) grounded out to first to end the threat.
Fairfield threatened again in the bottom of the seventh after consecutive singles by Rafferty and junior Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y.) put runners on second and third with two outs. But the Stags could not push a run across.
Wilson pitched seven innings for Niagara with 11 strikeouts. He allowed just three hits and walked five batters. Ryan Virtue came on in relief to pitch one inning giving up a hit and striking out three Stags.
This weekend's series was moved to Fordham University's Houlihan Park due to field conditions at Fairfield. The Stags and the Purple Eagles will continue action tomorrow as the play a doubleheader beginnning at noon.
