March 29, 1999
This Week - The Stags will host Iona in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader on Thursday. They will then host Manhattan in two more MAAC doubleheaders on Saturday and Monday. All doubleheaders start at 12 noon.
Home Sweet Home - After playing 16 of their first 18 games of the season on the road, the Stags will enjoy a seven-game homestand, concluding on Thursday, April 8 when they host C.W. Post.
Getting Hot - The Stags have won seven of their last nine games to pull their record to 8-10 after a 1-8 start. They went 4-2 last week, splitting four MAAC games with Rider over the weekend. Freshman first baseman Ryan Bittner (Emerson, NJ) posted outstanding numbers. The 6-foot-2 lefty batted .522 (12-for-23) in the six games with four doubles, a triple. nine RBI and a .783 slugging percentage. In the Stags' four games with Rider, Bittner batted .462 (6-for-13).
On the Mound - Over the last 10 games, the Stag pitching staff has compiled a 4.44 ERA. Steve Colcord (North Hampton, N.H.) is 2-0 during that stretch, allowing just one earned run in 14 innings. Ryan Holsten (Wilmington, Del.) has a 2.77 ERA, allowing just four earned runs during that period.
Seeing Double - Stag opponents are getting a double-dose of Lopusznicks. Fraternal twins Jim and Tom Lopusznick (Leonardo, NJ) have been a potent combination in the Stag lineup thus far. Jim, the Stags' center fielder and lead-off hitter is leading the team in batting average (.358) and on base percentage (.471). Tom, the Stags right fielder and clean-up hitter, batted .409 in six games last week, raising his season average to .304. Tom is third on the squad with 11 RBI and leads the team in stolen bases, swiping all 11 he has attempted.
Thieves - The Stags have already racked up 50 stolen bases this year in 60 attempts. That's an average of 2.78 stolen bases per game. Ten different players have at least one stolen base and six players have at least six stolen bases. With 30 regular season games remaining, the Stags are on pace to shatter the program's single season record of 118 stolen bases set by the 1977 team.
Injury Report - Stag left fielder Matt McGoldrick (Butler, NJ) made a diving catch in the Stags' final game at Rider, saving a base-hit, but in the process dislocated his right shoulder and is out indefinitely. The 6-foot-2 switch-hitter had raised his batting average to .281 for the season after going 9-for-19 (.474) over his previous seven games.
Last Time Out - After being swept by Rider on Saturday, the Stags bounced back with two wins against the Broncs on Sunday, 6-2 and 5-2. Steve Colcord tossed a complete game three-hitter in the opener, allowing no earned runs. Ryan Holsten got the win in the second game, going six innings, allowing just three hits and two earned runs.
Coach's Corner -
Head Coach John Slosar is in his 15th season at the helm of the Stags and carries a career record of 255-292-6 into Thursday's contests. Before taking over the reigns in 1984, Slosar served as an assistant coach at Fairfield for eight years. All totaled, since coming to Fairfield, Slosar has helped the Stags to one MAAC Championship, four MAAC South titles, six ECAC playoff appearances and nine 20-win seasons. In the last four years, Slosar has led the Stags to three seasons of 20 wins or more and two MAAC South Championships, including the 1997 South crown. For his efforts in 1997, he was named MAAC South Coach of the Year.
