March 31, 2005
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team fell to the University of Connecticut, 11-6, in Fairfield's 2005 home opener, at Alumni Diamond, on Thursday afternoon. Both teams, posted double-digit hit totals, as UConn., had 18 and Fairfield had 13.
Three Fairfield (2-14) players extended their hitting streaks on Thursday, led by freshman Brian Rudolph (Washington Township, N.J./Bergen Catholic) who extended his personal-best streak to seven, by going 4-for-5 with two runs batted in. He also had two doubles, to raise his season total to 10.
Junior Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) went 1-for-5 with a run scored, to extend his streak to five games. Sophomore Brian Schappert (Wyckoff, N.J./St. Joseph's) also extended his hitting streak to five games, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
UConn. (15-6) crossed the plate in each of the first four innings, scoring two runs in the top of the first, one in the second and third, and four in the top of the fourth.
Fairfield scored three times in the third inning. Freshman Adam Chilelli (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) drew a one-out walk, and advanced to second, when Schappert singled up the middle.
Then junior Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton) walked to load the bases, bringing junior John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia) who finished the day 2-for-5, laced a two-run double to left field. After Anderson stole third base, Rudolph singled down the right field line for Fairfield's third run of the afternoon.
However in the fourth, UConn, would score four runs on three hits to take the 8-3 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning Fairfield cut the Husky lead to 8-5, scoring two runs on three hits. Anderson lofted a sacrifice-fly to center, bringing in Girolamo who had a one-out single, and stole second base, but the throw from the UConn catcher sailed into centerfield, and Girolamo was safely at third.
After a double by Scaife, Rudolph would hit his second double of the afternoon with a shot into right field, bringing in Scaife. Fairfield would add another run in the seventh, as Anderson drove a pitch over the left field wall for his sixth homerun of his career and first this season. The Fairfield shortstop finished the day going 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, and the round tripper.
The Huskies scored three more times in the top of the eighth inning, to make it 11-6.
UConn's Larry Day went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and a run batted in, while Tony Mallozzi was 4-for-5 with three runs scored and a RBI. Austin Wasserman was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.
Starter Mike Tarsi went five innings for the Huskies, to earn his second win of the season. He gave up five runs, four earned on seven hits and two walks, while striking out three.
Fairfield starter, junior Sean Keegan (Middlebury, Conn./Pomperaug) lasted only three and a third innings, giving up eight runs, seven earned on nine hits and one walk. He had one strikeout.
The Stags are back in action this weekend, as it hosts Saint Peter's College for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series at home. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. at Alumni Diamond.
Notes... Brian Rudolph raised his team-best batting average to .364 after his 4-for-5 performance at the plate on Thursday ... Of his team-best 20 hits on the season, 12 are for extra bases, including two doubles against UConn. ... Fairfield is now 1-2 against Big East schools this season ... Fairfield fell to Villanova 6-3 on March 18, but beat St. John's 18-13 on March 22 ... Fairfield will look to even its record against Big East opponents with a rematch against Connecticut on April 19, in Storrs, Conn ... Fairfield Head Coach John Slosar is a 1972 graduate of the University of Connecticut, and was a part of UConn.'s 1972 College World Series team.
Univ. of Connecticut 11, Fairfield University 6 (Mar 31, 2005 at Fairfield, Conn.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Univ. of Connecticut 211 400 030 - 11 18 1 (15-6) Fairfield University 003 020 100 - 6 13 1 (2-14) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Univ. of Connecticut - Tarsi; Maguire(6); Smeraglino(8). Fairfield University - Keegan; Hoffman(4); Breen(8). Win-Tarsi(2-0) Loss-Keegan(0-3) T-2:35 A-135 HR FFD - Anderson (1). Game: FFD0331
