April 29, 2006
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
LEWISTON, N.Y. - Sophomore Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and four runs batted in, and junior Ed Kamintzky (Astoria, N.Y./Regis) tied a career-high for strikeouts with 10 as the Fairfield University baseball team split a doubleheader against Niagara at Bobo Field. The Stags won the first game 9-7, but fell 12-1 in the nightcap.
Senior John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia) put Fairfield (13-23, 7-9 MAAC) on the board in the bottom of the first inning with a base hit to centerfield, to plate junior Brian Schappert (Wyckoff, N.J./Saint Joseph's University). With the bases loaded, senior Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) hit into a fielder's choice, which scored senior Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland). DeSimone also hit into a fielder's choice, to drive in senior Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton).
In the home half of the first inning, Jeff Vincent made it 3-1, with a homerun over the right centerfield fence.
Fairfield added two more in the top of the third inning, as DeSimone roped a two-run double to left center field, which brought home Arpino, who singled through the right side of the Niagara infield, and Scaife, who singled to right field.
Niagara was able to retire eight Stags in a row, and posted two runs in the fifth inning. James Nikolaides hit to centerfield allowed Andrew MacNevin to score. Then after an error, the Purple Eagles loaded the bases, and pushed a run across with an RBI walk.
The Purple Eagles added another run in the sixth, as Mike Medici solo homerun to right made it 5-4, in favor of the Stags. But, the Stags tacked on two more in the seventh inning. Anderson stroked a double down the left field line, plating freshman Dave Jermine (North Haven, Conn./Notre Dame). Then Scaife singled through the left side of the infield, to knock in Anderson.
After another solo homerun from Niagara in the seventh inning, Fairfield scored one run on two hits in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs and a runner on second base, Jermine singled to centerfield, plating DeSimone.
Scaife finished the game 3-for-5 with a run scored, and two runs batted in. Anderson was 2-for-5 with a double and three runs scored in the first game of the day.
Kamintzky tied his career-best for strikeouts in a game with 10, as he had 10 in the win against Fordham in March. He did yield five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks. Freshman Dan Gallagher (Allendale, N.J./Bergen Catholic) picked up his seventh save of the season with two innings of work.
Josh Sawatzky pitch six innings of shutout baseball in the nightcap to give the Purple Eagles the split on the afternoon, including retiring the last 10 batters he faced.
Fairfield's lone run of the nightcap came off the bat of Jermine who's sacrifice fly plated sophomore Tyler Birrittella who was hit by a pitch.
The rubber game of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series is slated for Sunday at 12 p.m.
