April 25, 2007
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Pinch hitter Pat Hoban (Malvern, Pa.) delivered a two-run game winning single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Fairfield over Central Connecticut State, 6-5, at a soggy Alumni Diamond.
Hoban's walkoff single capped a three-run rally by the Stags (10-22) with two outs in the bottom of the final frame inning. Trailing the Blue Devils (15-12) by a margin of 5-3 and facing their last out, junior Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) stepped to the plate and singled through the left side. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved over to third on ball four to junior Mike Weiner (Easton, Conn.) that had bounced away from the plate. Junior Brian Rudolph (Washington, Twp., N.J.) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Jason Rago (Fairfield, Conn.), who was also hit by a pitch to bring home a run and set the stage for Hoban.
Fairfield's was necessary after CCSU posted four runs in the top of the ninth. Trailing 3-1 with no outs, Tommy Meade hit a three-run homerun off of rookie Mike Fournier (Fairfield, Conn.) to put the Blue Devils on top 4-3. Central Connecticut added an insurance as Casey Walko scored on a Kyle Zarotney double to deep centerfield.
Fournier was credited with his first collegiate victory despite giving up four runs on three hits in an inning of work. Taylor Kosakowski took the loss for CCSU working an inning and two-thirds, yielding three runs on one hit with two walks, two hit batsmen, and two strikeouts.
Sophomore Doug Ciallella (Clifton, N.J.) received the no-decision after a stellar day on the mound. Ciallella pitched six innings, allowing just one unearned run on three hits while fanning eight batters. Junior Ryan Calabrese (Wantagh, N.Y.) and rookie Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J.) tossed hitless and scoreless seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
Fairfield started the day by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning off of starter Donny White. Junior Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to start the game and came around to score on a double to centerfield by Dave Jermine (North Haven, Conn.). Jermine crossed the plate two batters later on a double by Allen.
Central Connecticut scored in the top of the fifth inning as Walko scored on a passed ball. The Stags would get the run back in the bottom of the sixth as Rago scored on a fielder's choice.
Allen went 3-for-5 on the day with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored while Weiner went 2-for-4.
Fairfield will be back in this weekend when it hosts Siena in a three-game series beginning April 28.
