March 26, 2007
Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
BRONX, N.Y. - Freshman Jason Rago (Fairfield, Conn.) and junior Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) combined for seven runs scored, seven runs batted in, and seven hits to help the Fairfield baseball team sweep Niagara this afternoon at Houlihan Park. Fairfield took the first game by a score of 8-7 and the second game by a margin of 7-2.With the victories, Stags completed the three-game series sweep to improve to 4-8 overall and 3-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Purple Eagles fall to 6-10 overall and 0-3 in conference action.
Allen went 4-for-7 on the day with four RBI and three runs scored. Hewas a homerun shy of the cycle in the first game, going 3-for-4 with a single, double and a triple along with two RBI and two runs scored. Allen picked up where he left off in the second game 1-for-3 with a homerun, two RBI and a run scored.
Rago, meanwhile, went a combined 3-for-7, including two homeruns, along with four runs scored and three RBI.
As a team, Fairfield pounded out 23 hits on the day, including 14 in the first game.
In the opening game, freshman Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J.) earned his first collegiate win, going five and two-thirds of an inning giving up four earned runs on six hits while striking out five batters. Freshman Mike Fournier (Fairfield, Conn.) earned his first collegiate save going one inning with two strikeouts.
In the second game of the twinbill, senior Ed Kamintzky (Astoria, N.Y.) earned his first win of the season, going five innings and giving up two runs on four hits while fanning eight batters. Freshman Kevin Fico (Stamford, Conn.) earned his first collegiate save by tossing four scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts.
Juniors Brian Rudolph (Washington Twp, N.J.) and Pat Hoban (Malvern, Pa.) each scored four times for the Stags during the two games. Rudolph also had four hits and two runs batted in.
The Stags threatened in each of the first two innings of the first game but the Purple Eagles were able to get out of the jam. Niagara got on the board first in the top of the third inning as Brian Clifford scored from third base on a groundball to shortstop. Andrew MacDonald gave Niagara a 2-0 lead scoring on an error during a double steal attempt.
Fairfield got its offense going in the bottom half of the inning as the scored three runs on six hits. Hoban opened the inning with a single. With one out, Allen then doubled down the leftfield line to plate Hoban. Rudolph followed with a single to shortstop and Catcher Mike Weiner (Easton, Conn.) loaded the bases with a single through the left side. Rookie David Dudish (Olney, Md.) blooped a single to center to score Allen. The next batter, Dave Brizzolara (Norwood, N.J.) singled to short center allowing Rudolph to cross the plate and give Fairfield a 3-2 advantage.
The Stags' offense continued in the bottom of the fourth inning at Allen tripled down the right field line to score Rago from first base. Rudolph then singled to short rightfield to push Allen across the plate to make the score 5-2. After stealing second base Rudolph stole third and was able to trot on home on a throwing error by the Niagara defense during the play.
The Purple Eagles did not back down in the top of the fifth inning as Clifford launched a three-run homer to right center to pull Niagara within 6-5. But Gariano settled down and was able to set down the next three batters. Rago gave the Stags some breathing room in the bottom half of the inning blasting a two-run homerun over the centerfield fence to make the score 8-5. Niagara mounted a comeback in the top of the seventh inning putting up a two-spot but Fournier and the Fairfield was able to hold them off.
In the second game, Niagara got on the board first in the top of the first inning as MacDonald scored on an Alberts sacrifice fly to leftfield. Fairfield got the run back in the bottom of the second inning as Philip Espinosa (Commack, N.Y.) delivered a one-out single up the middle to score Rudolph. Rago put the Stags on top, 3-1, in the bottom third by crushing his second homer of the day to left center.
Niagara closed the gap to 3-2 in the top of the fifth inning as Harber scored on a sacrifice fly after opening the inning with a triple. After Rago walked to start the bottom of the frame Allen delivered a two-run blast to left centerfield to give the Stags a 5-2 edge. Fairfield added another run in the bottom of the seventh as pinch hitter Matt Tiagwad (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) singled home Rudolph. The Stags also posted a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the score 7-2.
Fairfield will return home to Alumni Diamond tomorrow to host the University of Connecticut at 3 p.m.
