May 18, 2006
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The Fairfield University baseball team scored one run in the top of the tenth inning to take the first game of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader, 5-4, on Thursday afternoon at Siena Field. The Saint gained a split with a 4-0 win in the nightcap.
In the first game, after Siena (23-30-1, 12-14 MAAC) tied the game at 4-4, in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Stags (17-29, 11-14 MAAC) scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th, thanks to some timely hitting from sophomore Adam Chilielli (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City). Chilelli ripped a double to left, which brought senior Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton) home, from second base.
Siena opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the Stags responded with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Junior Philip Espinosa (Commack, N.Y./St. Anthony's) doubled to left field, the came home on a sacrifice fly from senior John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia).
In the fourth inning, the Saints tacked on a run when Scott King singled, and Michael Ambury was able to score on a throwing error.
The Stags would pull within one run, in the top of the fifth inning, as junior Brian Schappert (Wyckoff, N.J./Saint Joseph's University) reached and went to second on an error by the Siena pitcher. Senior Jim Girolamo (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt, and sophomore Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) brought Schappert home with a sacrifice fly.
Fairfield took a 4-3 lead in the seventh, as Scaife drove in his second run of the game, and 113th of his career with a single to right, which plated Girolamo, who drew a leadoff walk, and went to third, when DeSimone reached on an error.
Anderson then laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with nobody out. That brought freshman Dave Jermine (North Haven, Conn./Notre Dame) to the plate, and his groundout to second scored DeSimone.
The Saints tied it in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Gabe Perez singled to right center to bring in Matt Gidaly, who led the inning off with a base hit.
Six Fairfield players had hits in the first game, as Chilelli had a pair of hits, with one run batted in. Sophomore Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck), Chilelli and Espinosa each had doubles for the Stags.
Senior Dan Breen (Troy, N.Y./Troy) pitched three innings of relief to pick up his third win of the season. It was the 55th appearance for the right-hander, who tied Scott Larkin (1990-93) for first place on the school's all-time appearance list.
Junior Ed Kamintzky (Astoria, N.Y./Regis) started for the Stags and pitched seven innings, yielding two earned runs on nine hits. Kamintzky struck out five to move into fourth place on the school's single-season strikeout list with 76. He moved past Tom Maisano who had 74 in 2002.
In the nightcap, Andy Wells was effective pitching five innings of scoreless ball, while scattering six hits and three walks. The Saints scored three runs in the first inning, and would add another in the third inning.
Girolamo and Scaife each had a pair of hits for the Stags, as Scaife added his eighth double of the season.
The series will conclude on Friday with a nine-inning game. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.
