April 13, 2005
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team fell to the University of Rhode Island 21-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Diamond. Freshman Brian Rudolph (Washington Township, N.J./Bergen Catholic) extended his hitting streak to five games, going 1-for-4.
The Rams (13-14) crossed the plate six times in the top of the second inning, as they had five hits in the inning. In the URI rally Dave Savard and Matt Sullivan each had two-RBI doubles to pace the offensive output.
In the bottom of the second, Fairfield (6-20) was able to get a runner into scoring position as junior Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) singled. Then with one-out, sophomore Steve Rybak (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Seton Hall) singled through the right side of the infield. But, the inning ended with a freshman Adam Chilelli (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) ground out.
Rhode Island added a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning, as Sullivan reached base on an error, then the next two hitters were hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mike Rainville lofted a sacrifice fly to centerfield, and Wayne Russo had an RBI groundout.
Fairfield starter Rick Gruber (Elmhurst, Ill./Fenwick) gave up eight runs, six earned on eight hits, and two walks in four innings on the hill. Gruber (0-2) struck out three Ram hitters. He was relieved by junior Steven Flynn (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton), who pitched well giving up only one run on three hits and one walk, while striking out two in three innings of work.
However, in the eighth Rhode Island would get to junior Steven Tyburski (Feasterville, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) and junior Dan Breen (Troy, N.Y./Troy), as it scored 12 runs on 13 hits, one error, while leaving the bases loaded in the eighth.
Fairfield was finally able to put a run on the board in the bottom of the eighth, as junior Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) led the inning off, by getting hit by a pitch, he was replaced by freshman Tyler Birrittella (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) as a pinch runner. Then junior John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia) singled up the middle, and pinch hitter Philip Espinosa (Commack, N.Y./St. Anthony's) had the RBI single, to plate Bittittella.
The Stags return to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action this weekend, when Siena College pays a visit to Alumni Diamond. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon with first pitch slated for 12 p.m.
