April 12, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Sophomore Tyler Birrittella (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) went 2-for-3 with four runs batted in, and senior Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton) knocked in three runners, as the Fairfield University baseball team defeated Fordham University 12-6, on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Diamond.
The Stags (9-17, 4-5 MAAC) took the season series with the Rams (16-17), as the teams split a doubleheader at Fordham in March.
Fordham opened the scoring with a two-run homerun by Javier Martinez, with P.J. Como aboard. Como was hit by a pitch then stole second, and then third, before Martinez took one over the centerfield wall.
Fairfield tied it in the second inning, as sophomore Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck), senior Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland), and sophomore Adam Chilelli (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) drew one-out walks to load the bases. Birrittella came to the plate, and drew another walk, to put Fairfield on the board. Then, with the bases still loaded, freshman George Lisi (Stratford, Conn./Bunnell) was hit by a pitch to score Girolamo.
In the bottom of the third inning, Fairfield scored five runs, thanks to four hits, and three Fordham errors. Sophomore Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) led the inning off with a strikeout, but the Fordham catcher, did not realize that the umpire ruled he did not catch strike three and started throwing the ball around the infield. DeSimone ran to first, and made it to second, off an errant throw by the Fordham shortstop.
After Anderson grounded out to second, DeSimone moved up 90-feet, and came home when senior John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia) singled to centerfield. But the centerfielder misjudged the ball, and Scaife came all the way home, on the base hit and an error.
But the Stags were not done, as Allen singled to centerfield, and Girolamo was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Chilelli executed a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Birrittella's single to center brought both Allen and Girolamo in, making it 6-2. Lisi doubled to right, to plate Birrittella for the fifth run of the inning.
Fordham added another run in the top of the fourth inning, as Mike Cosenza led off with a double, then came home when Jake Rabinowitz singled.
Fairfield went to work again in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Anderson lofted a sacrifice fly to plate DeSimone who singled through the right side of the infield, and took two bases on a wild pitch to Anderson.
In the fifth, Birrittella added his fourth RBI of the afternoon to bring in Girolamo who singled and moved to second on a ground out. Lisi reached on an error by the Fordham shortstop, and junior Brian Schappert (Wyckoff, N.J./Saint Joseph's University) singled up the middle. With runners on second and third, Anderson singled to the right centerfield gap, to clear the bases and make it 12-3 Fairfield.
Fordham tacked on two runs in the seventh, as Como was hit by a pitch to bring in Rabinowitz. Then Robert Iacono hit a sacrifice fly to score Mickey White. Fordham made it 12-6 with a run in the ninth inning.
Pinch-hitter, freshman Dave Jermine (North Haven, Conn./Notre Dame) went 2-for-2 on the afternoon for the Stags. Girolamo scored three times, as he was 1-for-3, DeSimone added a pair of runs. Lisi went 1-for-3 with two runs batted in, and a run scored.
Senior Steve Tyburski (Feasterville, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) tossed six innings to get his first win of the season. Tyburski (1-3) gave up three runs on three hits and two walks, and at one point he retired seven Rams in a row.
Freshman Dylan Gandossy (Redding, Conn./Joel Barlow) gave up two unearned runs on one hit, and one walk in one inning of work. Senior Dan Breen (Troy, N.Y./Troy) moved into sole possession of fourth place on the school's all-time appearance list, with one inning of one hit ball. Junior Michael Colucci (Bayonne, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) gave up one run on one hit, in the ninth.
Fairfield returns to actions this weekend with the start of a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series at Manhattan College. The Stags and the Jaspers will meet on a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch at 12 p.m. The series will conclude on Monday with a single game.
