Feb. 27, 2006

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team continues its season opening road trip with a three-game series at Fordham University, March 3-5 at Houlihan Park at Jack Coffey Field. Fairfield enters the weekend series with the Rams 0-3 following three losses to James Madison University. Fordham is 2-4 on the season, after dropping two of three at the University of New Orleans last weekend.

This Week:
Fairfield University (0-3, 0-0 MAAC) at Fordham University (2-4, 0-0 A-10)
Game 1: Fairfield at Fordham, Friday March 3, 3 p.m.
Game 2: Fairfield at Fordham, Saturday, March 4, 1 p.m.
Game 3: Fairfield at Fordham, Sunday, March 5, 1 p.m.

Series History: Friday's game will be the 39th meeting between the two school's ... The Stags and the Rams will play four games this season, including the three this weekend ... Fordham returns to Alumni Diamond on Tuesday, April 12 ... The all-time series between the Stags and the Rams is knotted at 19-19.

Stag Quick Hits: Fairfield opened the 2006 season with three losses to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. ... Fairfield pitchers surrendered 46 runs in 24.0 innings of work over the weekend and allowed 18 walks, while striking out 14 hitters ... The Stag offense also struggled as it managed just four extra base hits (all doubles) ... Junior second baseman Brian Schappert continued where he left off last season, as he led the Stags at the plate going 5-for-11 (.455) with a double a run scored, a run batted in, and a stolen base ... Senior shortstop Doug Anderson started 2006 off on the right foot, going 4-for-10 with a double and a run scored in the three-game set at James Madison ... Graduate Student Paul DeMarco made his first appearance with the Stags after transferring from Duke University on Friday afternoon ... He made his first appearance since the 2003 season after suffering an arm injury ... On Friday, DeMarco gave up only two earned runs on seven hits and two walks in four innings of work ... He was in control early as he retired seven of the first eight hitters he faced ... But a two-out bunt single started the JMU rally ... On Saturday, junior lefty Ed Kamintzky struck out six, as he kept the Dukes at bay through five innings allowing only two runs on five hits before running into trouble in the sixth ... Sophomore designated hitter Peter Allen had a solid start to the season, as he hit .364 (4-11) with a double, three runs batted in and a run scored ... Allen went 3-for-5 with a run scored in the series finale on Sunday ... Sophomore left fielder Tyler Birrittella leads the Stags in runs batted in with four, as knocked in a pair of runs in Sunday's game with a double.

Scouting Fordham: Fordham is 2-4 on the season ... The Rams opened the season falling in two-of-three to Elon February 19-20, and falling twice to New Orleans last weekend ... This weekend will be the home opener for the Rams and the first games on campus since the 2004 season, their home field underwent renovations last season ... As a team, Fordham is hitting .267 with 34 runs, 60 hits, and 30 runs batted in ... 17 of the Rams hits were for extra bases ... Greg Smith is the team's leading hitter with a .435 batting average, 10 hits and seven runs batted in ... Eric Reese is hitting .364 with eight hits four doubles and four runs batted in ... On the hill, Peter Kennelly is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA, and Javier Martinez is also 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA.

On Deck:
Sunday, March 12 vs. Duquesne, 10:30 a.m. @Bradenton, Fla.
Monday, March 13 vs. Valparaiso, 10 a.m. @Bradenton, Fla.
Tuesday, March 14 vs. Eastern Kentucky, 10:30 a.m. @Bradenton, Fla.
Tuesday, March 14 vs. Eastern Illinois, 3 p.m. @Bradenton, Fla.
Wednesday, March 15 vs. Indiana, 3 p.m. @Bradenton, Fla.
Thursday, March 16 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 2:30 p.m. @Bradenton, Fla.
Friday, March 17 vs. Bradley, 3 p.m. @Bradenton, Fla.