April 26, 2004
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - Senior Antuan Barnett (Bronx, N.Y./Rice) was 1-for-5 with his fourth triple of the season, as the Fairfield University baseball team dropped the final game of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) game at Niagara University on Monday afternoon.
The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, but was suspended in the second inning due to poor field conditions. The game resumed at 1 p.m. this afternoon. The loss drops Fairfield to 14-19 overall, and 7-8 in the MAAC, while Niagara improves to 13-16 overall, and 9-4 in the MAAC.
Barnett had an RBI triple to center field to plate senior Nick Hudyma (New Britain, Conn./New Britain) in the top of the sixth inning. Hudyma drew a leadoff walk, and would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton). Barnett scored when senior Sal Mancuso (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) stroked a single to left centerfield, to take a 2-1 lead in the game.
However, Niagara would take the lead back in the home half of the sixth when Brian Clifford ripped a one-out double to right center, to plate Mike Alati who singled to start the inning for the Purple Eagles. A Greg Lehman groundout would give the Purple Eagles their second run of the inning, as Andrew MacNevin came across the plate.
Niagara added an insurance run on the bottom of the seventh with a sacrifice-fly that scored Matt Ircandia.
Mancuso finished the day at the plate for the Stags going 2-for-3 with a run batted in. Senior Andy Lynn (Montville, N.J./Delbarton) finished the day going 2-for-3. Lynn also smacked his fourth double of the season.
Senior Matt Young (Berlin, Conn./Berlin) was tagged with his second loss of the season, as he gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits, and two walks in six innings of work. He struck out four Niagara hitters. Freshman Ed Kamintzky (Astoria, N.Y./Regis) pitched two innings and gave up one run on one walk. Kamintzky has given up only one run in the last eight and a third innings of work.
Fairfield will play its last two non-conference games this week, as Fordham comes to Alumni Diamond on Wednesday, and Stony Brook visits on Thursday. Both games are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Notes...
This is the Stags third MAAC series win of the season, as it defeated the Purple Eagles in a doubleheader, 6-4, and 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. Fairfield has also taken series from Canisius, and Rider earlier this season ... Fairfield has taken two of three from the Purple Eagles in each of the last two seasons ... The Fairfield pitching staff continues to rack up strikeouts, as the Stags recorded 16 "K's" in the three-game series for a total of 178 on the season ... Senior Tom Maisano needs only one strikeout to move past Steve Becker (1988-91) for sole possession for third place on the school's all-time strikeout list with 177.
