March 29, 2003
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader with Niagara University on Saturday afternoon, at Alumni Diamond taking the first game 12-6, and falling in the nightcap, 11-4.
In the first game the Stags (3-11-1, 1-4 MAAC) used a six-run bottom of the seventh inning to come back after the Purple Eagles (10-9, 4-1 MAAC) crossed the plate three times in the top of the inning.
Junior Sal Mancuso (Bethpage, NY/Bethpage) started the fireworks off in the seventh with a single to center field. The Stags would load the bases, with the top of the lineup coming to bat. Leadoff hitter freshman Doug Anderson (Randolph, NJ/Delbarton) drew a walk to bring home Mancuso.
The Stags added again in the seventh inning when, junior Andy Lynn (Montville, NJ/Delbarton) was hit by reliever Matt Fuller to bring home junior Nick Hudyma (New Britain, Conn./New Britain). The very next batter sophomore Greg Batista (Syosset, NY/Syosset) drove a Fuller pitch over the center field fence for his first homerun of the season, to make it 12-6.
Hudyma had a solid day at the plate going 2-for-3 with a home run and a double, with three runs scored. Leaver was 3-for-5 in the first game with a double and an RBI.
Junior Tom Maisano (Farmingdale, NY/Chaminade) picked up his first win of the season, despite getting touched for six runs on nine hits. The Long Island native did record five strikeouts on the afternoon, and three walks in seven innings of work.
In the nightcap, the Stags quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, but Niagara put four runs on the board in the top of the second inning, and never looked back en rout to the win. The Purple Eagles would add three in the top of the third, and a pair of runs in the top of the fourth and seventh innings.
Josh McCurdy led Niagara at the plate by going 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Mike Alati added a pair of doubles to go along with two RBI, and a run scored.
Leaver would go 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Stags at the plate.
Fairfield and Niagara will meet in the rubber game on Sunday afternoon starting at 12 p.m., on the Alumni Diamond.
