March 15, 1999
Wilmington, N.C. - Benji McIntosh drove home the game winning run with a single in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks (14-5) to a 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Fairfield University (1-8) on Sunday afternoon.
Bryan Mazur (5-0) picked up the win in relief, hurling the final 5 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on four hits, walking two and striking out eight. Dave Catelotti (0-2) took the loss for Fairfield, retiring just one batter and giving up two unearned runs. Cristian Jung paced the Stag attack going 3-for-4 and scoring twice.
Fairfield jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Jim Lopusznick drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on Jung's double to rightfield. Paul Macchio then followed with a single to right to score both players.
After the Seahawks cut the deficit to 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the second, Fairfield added single tallies in the third and fourth for a 4-1 edge. Jung singled and later scored on an error in the third, and Ed McCrann ripped an RBI single, plating Matt Fratturelli with the fourth run.
UNC-Wilmington came back with a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 4-2. With one out, Mike Foucht singled to left and after Josh Bonifay fanned, Benji McIntosh slapped an RBI single over McCrann's head.
The Stags failed to increase their lead when a rally stalled in the top of the seventh. Jung singled to lead off the frame and after Macchio struck out, Tom Lopusznick walked and Ryan Bittner singled to load the bases before a 50-minute rain delay. Mazur went on to strike out Sean Easton and Fratturelli to kill the threat.
The Seahawks tied the game at 4-all with a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. Mauney Stanley singled to left and moved to second when Blayne Joyner walked. An errant pickoff throw allowed Stanley to advance to third and Quinn McLaney then delivered an RBI single to center. Fairfield centerfielder Jim Lopusznick misplayed the basehit and Joyner scored on the play.
UNC-Wilmington pushed across the go-ahead runs in the eighth. Kevin Hairr led off with a single to left and Foucht reached on an error. After Bonifay struck out, McIntosh sliced an RBI single to right to score Hairr and Matt McDonnell's fielder's choice brought Foucht home.
