April 4, 1999
Overall Record: 10-12 MAAC: 4-4
This Week - The Stags will host Manhattan in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader today. They will then host C.W. Post in a single game on Thursday at 3:00 pm before heading to Marist and LeMoyne for MAAC twin-bills on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Last Time Out - The Stags collected 34 hits, including seven home runs in two games as they swept the Jaspers 10-2 and 17-5 on Saturday. Cristian Jung finished the day 6-for-7 with three home runs, seven RBI and five runs scored. Jim Lopusznick was 6-for-8 on the day with five RBI. Matt Fratturelli collected five hits in six at bats, driving in three runs. Steve Colcord got his third straight win, scattering five hits and allowing no earned runs in the opener. Ryan Holsten also got his third win as he scattered six hits in the nightcap.
About the Jaspers - Manhattan owns a 9-16 overall record and a 2-6 mark in MAAC play.
Stag Leaders - Center fielder Jim Lopusznick continues to lead the Stags in batting average (.388) and on base percentage (.488). Fraternal twin brother Tom Lopusznick is third on the squad with a .348 batting average and leads the team in home runs (5), slugging percentage (.667) and stolen bases (15-for-15). Cristian Jung has raised his batting average to .354 and leads the Stags with 29 hits.
On the Hill - Today's scheduled first game starter Dave Catelotti carries an 0-2 record into today's game, but has posted the team's best ERA at 2.87. Catelotti has allowed just five earned runs in 15 and 2/3 innings pitched. Dan Krines, the Stag's scheduled game two starter, is 1-0 on the season, picking up his win in relief at Hartford on March 23.
Making the Plays - Stag second baseman Cristian Jung is errorless through their first 22 games. Jung has handled all 98 chances and has had his hand in 13 double plays.
Thieves - The Stags continue to run almost at will, swiping 61 stolen bases in 74 attempts. That's an average of 2.77 stolen bases per game. Ten different players have at least one stolen base and six players have at least six stolen bases. With 26 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.
Offensively Speaking - In four games last week, Fairfield batted .371 as a team, posted a .647 slugging percentage and stole 11 out of 14 bases. Tom Lopusznick batted .538 (7-for-13) during that stretch with two doubles, two home runs, nine RBI a 1.154 slugging percentage and was a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts. Jim Lopusznick also had an impressive week going 7-for-14 (.500) with six RBI and his first round-tripper of the season. To top things off, Cristian Jung batted .467 (7-for-15), scored seven runs and put up a 1.133 slugging percentage.
Coach's Corner -
Head Coach John Slosar is in his 15th season at the helm of the Stags and carries a career record of 257-294-6 into Mondays 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.
