April 25, 2005
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - With the score tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning; the Fairfield University baseball team put a pair of runs on the board, to take the rubber-game of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series against Niagara, 6-4, on Monday afternoon at Alumni Diamond.
In the sixth, sophomore designated hitter Brian Schappert (Wyckoff, N.J./St. Joseph's) broke the 4-4 tie, with a single to right field, scoring freshman left fielder Adam Chilelli (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) who had a one-out single up the middle to start the Stag (9-26, 7-8 MAAC) rally.
After a fly-out, junior shortstop Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton), continued to come through in the clutch as of late, as he stroked a double to centerfield, plating senior second baseman Mark Geanuleas (Glenside, Pa./Academy of the New Church), making it 6-4.
Niagara (13-20, 7-6 MAAC) broke the ice in the top of the first inning, when catcher Mike Medici had an RBI single to right field scoring shortstop Andrew MacDonald.
It would remain 1-0, until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Fairfield loaded the bases, as junior centerfielder Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) led the inning off, getting hit by a pitch, then Anderson singled to center, and junior first baseman John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia) reach on an error by the second baseman.
That brought junior catcher Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) to the plate, and he was able to draw a walk to tie the game at 1-1. Then after a strikeout, freshman right fielder Brian Rudolph (Washington Township, N.J./Bergen Catholic) was hit by a pitch to make it 2-1 in favor of the Stags.
In the top of the fifth Niagara took the lead back, scoring two runs with a RBI single by Medici and one by left fielder Mike Alati, making it 3-2, Niagara.
However, Fairfield answered with two more runs of their own in the home half of the fifth. Scaife's single down the left field line with the bases loaded, produced two runs, as Girolamo and Schappert came around to score, making it 4-3.
The Purple Eagles tied it in the top of the sixth, with a sacrifice-fly by second baseman Daniel Parsons.
Then in the bottom of the sixth, Fairfield took the lead back with two runs on four hits.
Fairfield starter Ed Kamintzky (Astoria, N.Y./Regis) picked up his second win in a row, despite being a little shaky early on. Kamintzky (3-3) was touched for four runs on nine hits and a walk, over six innings of work. The Regis high grad, struck out five hitters, raising his season total to 40.
Junior Dan Breen (Troy, N.Y./Troy) pitched three innings of shutout relief to pick up the save. Breen (1) allowed only two hits, and struck out one hitter on the hill for the Stags.
Niagara's Dan Griffin held the Stags in check early, but would get the no-decision after tossing five innings, scattering four runs on six hits and two walks. Griffin struck out eight hitters on the afternoon. Kyle Nicoletta was tagged with the loss, after giving up two runs on four hits. Nicoletta (2-4) also had a walk and a strikeout.
Anderson was 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. The New Jersey native has been on tear as of late, going 13-for-19 (.684) with five runs scored and seven runs batted in, over the last six games. Schappert was 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, in returning to the Fairfield lineup.
Fairfield is back in after on Tuesday afternoon, as they travel to historic West Point, N.Y., for a clash with Patriot League leader Army. First pitch at Doubleday Field is slated for 3:30 p.m.
