March 25, 1999
Fairfield, Conn. - In the bottom of the ninth, center fielder Jim Lopusznick (Leonardo, NJ) delivered an RBI single to center field with two on, two out and the game knotted at 6-6 to give the Fairfield University Stags (6-8) a 7-6 victory over visiting Fairleigh Dickinson University (3-10) on Thursday afternoon. The win is the Stags' fifth consecutive win, all come-from-behind victories.
FDU got on the board first, scoring two runs in the top of the first, both unearned after two Stag errors. The Stags answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the first, one of those also unearned.
The game remained tied at 2-2 until the top of the fifth when FDU pushed another run across. After Stag starter Dave Catelotti (Adams, MA) retired the first two batters of the inning, short stop Paul Esposito (Middletown, NJ) walked and promptly stole second base. Third baseman Rob DeFabbia (Bronx, NY) then smacked a single to left field to score Esposito and give the Knights a 3-2 lead.
FDU added two more to pull ahead 5-2 in the top of the eighth before Fairfield began its comeback. Catcher Sean Easton (Levittown, NY) led off the bottom of the eighth with a single to right field. After Stag short stop Ed McCrann (Middle Village, NY) flied out, left fielder Matt McGoldrick (Butler, NJ) singled, advancing Easton to second base. Jim Lopusznick followed with a walk to load the bases with one out. Second baseman Cristian Jung (Brewster, NY) reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Easton and cut the lead to 5-3. The Stags then cut the lead to 5-4 as McGoldrick scored on a wild pitch.
The Knights weren't done though as they scored another unearned run in the top of the ninth to go back up by two at 6-4. In the bottom half of the ninth, Tom Lopusznick (Leonardo, NJ) led off with a walk for Fairfield. First baseman Ryan Bittner (Emerson, NJ) then collected his third hit of the day, a triple down the right field line to score Lopusznick and cut the lead to 6-5. Designated hitter Kevin Toohill (Pompton Plains, NJ) tied the game up at 6-6 with a sacrifice fly to center field. McCrann got things going again for Fairfield as he singled to center field. McCrann then advanced to third on a single by McGoldrick. Jim Lopusznick followed with his line drive to center field, scoring McCrann and giving the Stags the victory.
Lopusznick finished 2-for-2 on the day and drew four walks. Ryan Bittner went 3-for-5 for the Stags, his second straight three-hit game. Pat Kelly (1-0, Milford, CT) picked up the win for Fairfield, tossing 1 2/3 innings of relief, striking out one and giving up one unearned run.
Esposito finished the day 3-for-4 for FDU, scoring three runs. Sean McLaughlin (Fairfield, NJ) also went 3-for-4 for the Knights and added an RBI. Reliever Mark Zielinski (1-1, Bayonne, NJ) took the loss.
