May 2, 2004
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The Fairfield University baseball team held off a late-inning rally by Iona, to take the rubber-game of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series, winning 2-1 on Sunday afternoon, at J.B. Buono Field. The win clinches the Stags second MAAC series win in a row, and fourth on the season, as they improve to 14-20 overall and 9-9 in the MAAC.
For the third game of the series the Stags posted a run in their first at-bat. This time Fairfield took advantage of an Iona miscue as sophomore Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton) scored when senior Andy Lynn (Montville, N.J./Delbarton) reached by on an error by the Iona shortstop.
Fairfield added another run in the top of the fifth inning, as senior Antuan Barnett (Bronx, N.Y./Rice) lofted his second sacrifce-fly in as many days to plate senior Nick Hudyma (New Britain, Conn./New Britain), who started the inning off ripping a double down the right field line.
In the ninth, Iona's James LaSala stroked a two-out RBI single to score Mike Pereone who doubled to left center field with one out. However the Gael rally would end when pinch-hitter Tim Wheeler filed out to right field.
Senior Matt Young (Berlin, Conn./Berlin) picked up his second win of the season, hurling seven innings of shutout baseball, yielding five hits and two walks.
Young (2-2) struck out seven Gaels before turning the ball over to Freshman Ed Kamintzky (Astoria, N.Y./Regis) who earned his first college save despite giving up a run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kamintzky pitched two innings allowing one run on two hits and a walk. The Regis graduate struck out three batters on the day.
Anderson was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored for the Stags, while Hudyma was 2-for-5 with one run scored. Barnett was 2-for-4. Senior Mike Wray (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) was 2-for-2 with a walk.
LaSala finished the day 4-for-4 with a run batted in for the Gaels, and Perrone was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Chris Lopez took the loss for Iona, as he lasted four and two-thirds innings on the hill, allowing one run on eight hits. James Kosky pitched four and a third scoreless innings in relief.
Fairfield returns to action, on Saturday afternoon, when MAAC leader Le Moyne visits Alumni Diamond for a doubleheader. The two teams will play a nine-inning game on Sunday (May 9). First pitch for both days is slated for 12 p.m.
Notes... Against Iona Antuan Barnett batted .364 with two runs batted in ... Freshman Ed Kamintzky lowered his ERA to 2.49, after allowing one earned run in four innings of work against the Gaels. Kamintzky has struckout 24 hitters in 25.1 innings of work this year ... Yesterday senior Tom Maisano moved into sole posseion of third place on the school's all-time strike out list. He now has 180 for his career, and is second on the team with 40 this season.
