March 23, 1999
E. Hartford, Conn. - A three-run ninth inning lifted the Fairfield University Stags (5-8) to a 12-10 victory over Hartford (2-6) on Tuesday afternoon. The win is the Stags' fourth straight.
The Hawks jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings of play. Two of those runs were unearned. The Stags then tallied two in the fifth to cut the deficit in half. In the seventh, Fairfield exploded for six runs, thanks to two Hartford errors and three hit batters.
After Fairfield added one run in the top of the eighth to take a 9-4 lead, the Hawks evened the score as Scott Urbano hit a pinch-hit grand slam.
In the ninth, the Stags took advantage of two more Hartford errors to score three runs and take a 12-9 lead. Hartford cut the lead to two on a solo home run from Mark Rand, but could draw no closer.
Fairfield third baseman Kevin Toohill (Pompton Plains, NJ) was a perfect 4-for-4, scoring four runs, added a triple, an RBI and a stolen base. Freshman Ryan Bittner (Emerson, NJ) went 3-for-5, with two RBI and two runs scored. Junior center fielder Jim Lopusznick (Leonardo, NJ) chipped in four RBI on two hits.
Starter Ryan Holsten (Wilmington, Del.) gave the Stags seven solid innings, scattering seven hits, allowing two earned runs and striking out seven. Freshman Dan Krines (1-0, Huntington, NY) picked up his first collegiate win, tossing 1 2/3 innings in relief.
Fairfield returns to action on Thursday, March 25th when they host Fairleigh Dickinson University at 3:00 pm at Alumni Diamond.
