April 4, 2004
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Canisius scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning, to surpass the Fairfield University baseball team, and would eventually hang on to win 5-4 on a cold Sunday afternoon, at Alumni Diamond.
With the weather playing a factor, both starters Michael Rees of Canisius (2-16, 2-4 MAAC) and Fairfield's (6-10, 3-3 MAAC) senior Pablo Tamayo (Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades) held the other team at bay, as Canisius broke the ice with a run in the top of the seventh inning.
However, Fairfield added a pair in the bottom of the seventh when senior Nick Hudyma (New Britain, Conn./New Britain) tripled to the right field corner to bring home junior Mark Geanuleas (Glenside, Pa./Academy of the New Church), who pinch-ran for senior Mike Wray (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) and junior David Soucy (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury). Hudyma finished the afternoon going 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and two stolen bases to up his season total to 11.
However, in the top of the eighth Canisius took advantage to two critical errors by the Fairfield defense and scored four runs on four hits as Harpreet Padda stroked a RBI single to right to plate Brian Hartmann. Then Gabe Baida singled to right to score Adam Montgomery. Kevin Smith and Baida crossed the plate when Steve Spillman reached base on an error.
The Stags were able to get things going in their last at-bat. Soucy smacked a double down the right field line, and sophomore Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) followed with a single to center to put runner on base. Senior Jim Sheridan (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place) had a RBI ground out to second, and Hudyma followed with a ground out to short. But, the Stag rally came to an end, when sophomore Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland), who came in as a defensive replacement grounded out to end the game.
Soucy was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, and a walk. Tamayo pitched seven and a third innings giving up four runs on six hits, while striking out three. Reliever senior Matt Young (Berlin, Conn./Berlin) gave up one run on one hit, and struck out two in one and two-thirds innings of work.
Rees hurled six and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on six hits, while striking out four. Kevin Seitz pitched two and a third innings in relief giving up two runs on two hits.
Fairfield returns to action on Tuesday afternoon, when the University of Hartford visits Alumni Diamond for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.
