March 31, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - After taking the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series of the season last weekend against LeMoyne, the Fairfield University baseball team will look to continue that trend this weekend at Saint Peter's College.
Both the Stags and the Peacocks enter the weekend with 2-1 MAAC records, as Saint Peter's, won two games at home against Canisius, in the opening weekend of MAAC play.
The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at Jaroschak Field, in Jersey City, N.J. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. The series will conclude on Sunday with a single nine-inning game, beginning at 12 p.m.
Last Time Out: Sophomore Adam Chilelli went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in, as Fairfield fell to Central Connecticut State, 7-4 on Thursday afternoon ... CCSU put three runs on the board in the first and third innings to take a 6-0 lead ... After the Blue Devils scored a single run in the fourth, the Stags put four runs on the board in the top of the fifth inning ... Dylan Gandossy gave up one run on two hits and three strikeouts in three and one-third innings of relief .
Quick Hits: In the three-game series last year, the Stags pounded out 46 runs on 49 hits, as the Stags swept the MAAC series ... Fairfield took the first game, 29-10, the middle game 12-1, and the series finale 5-0 ... Senior Catcher Tom Arpino batted .643 (9-14) with one homerun, two doubles, five runs scored and nine runs batted in ... Freshman Dan Gallagher continues to shine in a relief role for the Stags in his first season with the Stags ... He has been spotless in his last 11.1 innings, by not allowing a run ... In addition, he has not allowed an earned run in his last 16.1 innings of work ... So far in eight appearances this season, spanning 20 innings, the Bergen Catholic high school graduate has allowed only eight runs (five earned), while earning two saves.
Saint Peter's Series History: Entering this weekend, Fairfield and Saint Peter's have met 110 times, with the Stags holding a 76-34 all-time record ... Fairfield has won five of the last six meetings between the two teams.
Scouting the Peacocks: SPC is 7-14 overall after defeating St. Francis (NY) 5-4 on Thursday afternoon ... As a team Saint Peter's is hitting .229 with 87 runs scored ... The Peacock pitching staff has a team ERA of 7.39 ... Santo Maertz is the team's leading hitter with a .326 batting average with seven runs batted in and eight runs scored ... Dennis Alexander is hitting .320 with a team-high 24 hits and six runs batted in ... Frank Flynn is 2-0 with a 6.55 ERA ... Head Coach Derek England is in his second season at the helm of the Saint Peter's baseball program.
Around the MAAC: Manhattan and Niagara the only two undefeated teams in the MAAC, square off this weekend, in a three-game series in the Bronx ... In addition, Canisius travels to Marist, LeMoyne is on the road at Iona, and Siena heads to Rider.
Looking Ahead:
Following the weekend series at Saint Peter's, the Stags will return to Alumni Diamond for a five-game home stand on Tuesday, April 4 against Albany ... Fairfield will then welcome Rider for a MAAC series, April 8-9 ... Fordham concludes the home stand on April 12.
