May 2, 2007
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - For the second day in a row, the Fairfield University bats were scorching hot as the Stags pounded out 17 hits en route to a 13-11 over Hartford in a slugfest on Campus Field. Juniors Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and Brian Rudolph (Washington Twp., N.J.) drove in four runs apiece to power the Fairfield (13-24) offense.
In addition to his RBI, Allen was one of six Stags to have multi-hit games, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Both of Allen's hits were doubles bringing his season total to 19. He is now one double away from tying Fairfield's single season record set by Mike Pike in 1996.
Rookie Jason Rago (Fairfield, Conn.), coming off a record setting performance yesterday, went 3-for-6, including two doubles, with three runs scored, a stolen base, and an RBI.
Rudolph went 3-for-5 with two stolen bases while senior Philip Espinosa (Commack, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior Patrick Hoban (Malvern, Pa.) went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a stolen base. Junior Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y.) had a pair of hits to go along with a run scored and his 15th stolen base of the season.
Fairfield used four pitchers on the day, including starter Kevin Fico (Stamford, Conn.) who was touched up for six runs, two earned, on five hits in two and one-third innings. Sophomore Dan Gallagher (Allendale, N.J.) earned the win by tossing the final three and one-third innings, allowing two runs on two hits.
Hartford (10-28) rookie Chris Greiner suffered the loss, as he was one of nine pitchers in the game for the Hawks. Starter Brendan Floyd was chased after three innings allowing three runs on five hits.
The Stags, who scored in all but three innings, started the offense early by plating two runs in the bottom of the first. With two outs and runners on second and third, Rudolph singled up the middle to score Rago and sophomore Dave Jermine (North Haven, Conn.).
Hartford responded by putting up four runs in the bottom half of the frame. Fairfield got one of the runs back in the second inning on a single to left field by Espinosa which plated Hoban. Hartford extended its lead to 6-3 by scoring twice in the bottom of the third inning. Fairfield continued to chip away by scoring a run in the top of the fourth and regained the lead in the sixth frame with a three run effort. Espinosa led off the inning with a single and DeSimone followed with a single to left. Both runners the touched home on a double down the right field line by Allen, who scored on a double by Rudolph.
The lead would be short-lived as the Hawks tallied three runs in the bottom half of the stanza to go up, 9-7. Fairfield did not back down and took the lead to stay in the top of the eighth inning by pushing four runs across the plate. Rookie Matt Tiagwad (Olney, Md.) drew a walk to start the rally and Rago followed with a single. Both would come around to score on a double by Allen. Hoban would later deliver a two-run single to pull the Stags ahead, 11-9.
Fairfield added two important insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning as the Hawks mounted a small rally in the bottom of the stanza on a two-run homer by Ryan Crowley.
Fairfield will host their final home conference series this weekend, May 5-6, against Manhattan. Prior to the start of Sunday's game, the Stags will recognize their three seniors.
