May 14, 2006
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - With the score tied 1-1 in the sixth inning, senior shortstop Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton) stroked a two-run double, to key the Fairfield University baseball team to a 4-1 win over Iona College, Sunday afternoon at JB Buono Field.
Fairfield (16-28, 10-13 MAAC) scored the first run of the afternoon in the top of the fifth inning, when freshman Michael Joyce (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown) singled to right field, but the ball was misplayed by the Iona (12-39, 8-15 MAAC) right fielder, which allowed freshman Dave Jermine (North Haven, Conn./Notre Dame) to score from second base.
In the home half of the fifth, Iona tied the game, with back-to-back singles from James LaSala and Matt Callahan. Ralph Marzella reached on a sacrifice bunt that was played into a fielder's choice to load the bases. With one out, Andrew Wernicki singled to knot the game at 1-1.
In the sixth, the Stags took the lead as senior Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) singled, and then sophomore Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) reached on a fielder's choice bunt. That brought Anderson to the plate, and he doubled to left, plating DeSimone and Girolamo.
The Stags put another run on the board in the top of the ninth, as Birrittella single plated Jermine, who drew a one-out walk.
Freshman Doug Ciallella (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) picked up his fourth win of the season, pitching eight and one-third innings of one run ball. Ciallella (4-3) struck out four batters on the afternoon. Senior Dan Breen (Troy, N.Y./Troy) pitched two-thirds on an inning to get his first save of the season.
Birrittella led Fairfield at the plate, as he went 3-for-4 with a run batted in. Anderson was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI's and Jermine scored twice for the Stags.
Fairfield returns to action on Thursday, as they travel to Siena College for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series.
