April 10, 2007
QUEENS, N.Y. - Despite pounding out 10 hits, including multi-hit days by junior Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and freshman Matt Tiagwad (Mt. Laurel, N.J.), the Fairfield University baseball team suffered a tough 8-4 loss to Big East foe St. John's University this afternoon at Jack Kaiser Stadium.
Allen posted his tenth multi-hit game of the season going 2-for-5 with two runs batted in while Tiagwad went 2-for-3 with two walks, one RBI and one run scored.
Nick Cenatiempo pitched five scoreless innings for St. John's (16-11) to earn the win, allowing four hits while striking out five batters. Centiempo came on in relief of Miguel Valcarcel who gave up four runs, two earned, on six hits with three strikeouts in two innings of work. Freshman Kevin Fico (Stamford, Conn.) took the loss, giving up five runs, four earned, on seven hits with a strikeout in four innings of work for the Stags (6-17). Sophomore Doug Ciallella (Clifton, N.J.) went three innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on six hits. Ciallella had his scoreless inning streak stopped at 13.2 innings as he gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
The Stags pulled out to a 2-0 lead to start the game. With one out, Patrick Hoban (Malvern, Pa.) beat out a chopper to second base to jumpstart the offense. Tiagwad followed with a single through the left side. Allen then delivered a bloop single to short left center to plate Hoban for the game's first run. Junior Brian Rudolph (Washington Twp., N.J.) followed with a single to centerfield to score Tiagwad to put Fairfield up 2-0.
St. John's responded in the bottom half of the first plating two runs of its own. The Red Storm used a trio of singles, capped off by a grounder up the middle by Gil Zayas, to pull within 2-1. St. John's then tied the score on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Smith.
Fairfield kept its offense going in the top of the second inning as Dave Brizzolara (Norwood, N.J.) singled to start the inning. With two outs, junior Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y.) reached on an error and Hoban drew walk to load the bases. Tiagwad then drew a walk of his own to score Brizzolara. Allen followed with a single to left to score DeSimone and give the Stags a 4-2 lead.
St. John's got one run back in the bottom of the second inning on a fielder's choice by Brenan Monaghan that scored Jose Iglesias. DeSimone was able to toss out a second runner at home on the play to end the inning. The Red Storm tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Gino Matias. Brian Kemp put St. John's on top with a single through the right side to score Chris Anninos from second base.
Fairfield threatened in the top of the seventh putting runners at first and second with no outs, but the Stags could not capitalize. In the top of the eighth inning, the Stags put runners on first and second with one out but stranded the seventh and eighth runners of the day. Fairfield threatened in the top of the ninth putting runners at first and third with two outs, but could not push them across the plate.
Fairfield returns to action April 14-15 when the Stags host Iona in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action at Alumni Diamond.
