April 20, 2004
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
STORRS, Conn. - The Fairifeld University baseball team split a doubleheader with the University of Connecticut on Tuesday afternoon at JO Christain Field. Fairfield fell 2-1 in the first game, but came back to take the nightcap, 4-3.
The teams played the twin bill, because the game from April 1 was rained out. Fairfield is now 10-15 overall, and 5-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
In the first game, UConn. pushed across the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Russ D'Agento singled and advanced to second on an error by the Fairfield senior second baseman Nick Hudyma (New Britain, Conn.). Marc Peluso started the inning with a two-base error by junior first baseman David Soucy (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury).
Fairfield tied the game in the top of the sixth inning senior Andy Lynn (Montville, N.J./Delbarton stroked a one-out single to right centerfield, and senior Antuan Barnett (Bronx, N.Y./Rice) ripped his third triple of the season down the right field line to tie the game, at 1-1.
UConn. had a rally going in the bottom of the seventh inning, as it loaded the bases, thanks to back-to-back singles by Tim Dempsey and Dennis Donovan. Then pinch hitter Dave Tokarz was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Kyle Messineo who flared a single to left for the winning run of the game.
Lynn was 1-for-3 with a run scored, for the Stags at the plate and Barnett was also 1-for-3 with a run batted in. Sophomore Steve Tyburski (Feasterville, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) pitched well for the Stags, giving up only one earned run on six hits. Tyburski (0-2) also had one strikeout and one walk in seven innings of work.
In the nightcap, Fairfield broke the ice with a run in the top of the first inning. Hudyma started the offensive with a leadoff double down the left field line. He was the advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lynn. Hudyma came home when Anderson grounded out to the shortstop.
Fairfield added another run in the top of the second inning as sophomore Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) stroked a triple down the right field line, and he would come home when Soucy grounded out to the Connecticut first baseman.
Matt Untiet put the Huskies on the board with a single, just over the outstretched glove of Anderson at shortstop, to drive in Mike Leonard in the bottom of the second inning. Leonard doubled to right centerfield, to put a runner in scoring position for the Huskies.
In the top of the sixth inning Fairfield went ahead with a bunt single, by Sheridan, and Barnett came home after stroking a leadoff single.
Arpino drove in his second RBI of the nightcap with a double to right field, to send home Anderson, who doubled to left center, in the top of the third inning. In the home half of the third inning D'Argento took a sophomore Sean Keegan (Middlebury, Conn./Pomperaug) over the left field fence for a two-run homerun.
Freshman Ed Kamintzky (Astoria, N.Y./Regis) came on to pitch the last four innings in relief on hitless ball to earn the victory for the Stags. Kamintzky (3-0) struck out four, and walked only one batter on the day.
At the plate Arpino was 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, a run scored and a run batted in for the Stags. Sheridan was also 2-for-3 with a run batted in.
Fairfield returns to Alumni Diamond on Wednesday afternoon, to face in state rival Yale University. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. After the clash with the Bulldogs, Fairfield will head to Western New York for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series.
