March 23, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) portion of its schedule this weekend with a three-game series at home against LeMoyne College. Fairfield enters the weekend with a 4-10 overall record, while LeMoyne is 6-6 overall.
Last time out: Fairfield fell to Central Connecticut State 6-1, on Wednesday afternoon. CCSU posted three runs in the top of the fifth inning, to extend its lead to 4-0, and later added two more in the ninth, before Fairfield scored in the bottom of the ninth. Freshman Dan Gallagher extended his scoreless innings streak to seven and two-thirds; in addition he has not allowed an earned run in his last 12 and two-thirds innings. He kept the Blue Devils off the scoreboard in three innings of relief. Senior Dewey Raymond went 2-for-4 with a run batted in.
Quick Hits: Senior Doug Anderson needs four hits for 150 in his career ... Junior Brian Schappert is off to a solid start this season ... He leads the team with a .364 batting average (20-55) ... He also holds a .463 on-base percentage heading into this weekend.
LeMoyne Series History: LeMoyne leads the all-time series with the Stags, 19-7 ... The Dolphins took two-of-three from the Stags last season in Syracuse ... Fairfield won the first game of the series last year, 10-3, but fell in the nightcap 17-0 ... Steve Tyburski picked up the win for the Stags as he allowed only one run on five hits ... The Stags pounded out 12 games in the series opener.
Scouting the Dolphins: LeMoyne comes to town, after taking two games of a three-game series at Charlotte last weekend ... As a team the Dolphins are hitting .288 ... The pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.98 ... Michael Affronti is hitting .440 with 10 runs batted in ... Head Coach Steve Owens is in his sixth season at the helm of the LeMoyne baseball program.
Around the MAAC: As the first weekend of conference play begins, Canisius travels to Saint Peter's, Niagara travels to Iona, Siena visits Manhattan, and Marist heads to Rider, in addition to the Stags and Dolphins series.
Looking Ahead:
Fairfield continues its home stand with the University of Connecticut on Tuesday, March 28 ... First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Alumni Diamond ... On Thursday, March 30; the Stags will travel to New Britain, Conn., for the second game of the season against Central Connecticut State.
