May 15, 2000
Fairfield, Conn. - After a 4-13 start overall and a 1-5 beginning to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) schedule, the Fairfield University baseball team has turned this into the best season in program history. By winning 21 of the last 27 games, including 16 of 19 in league play, the Stags closed out the regular season this weekend at 25-19 overall and 17-8 in MAAC play. The 25 wins is a new program record, surpassing the old mark of 23 set by the 1992 team and tied by the 1995 and 1999 squads. Their league mark was also good enough for third place, earning a berth in the MAAC Tournament for the first time since 1997.
Fairfield will take on number two seed Le Moyne (32-14, 18-7 MAAC) at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, in first round action at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y. The other first round game of the double-elimination tournament will pit MAAC regular season champion Iona (31-12, 22-4 MAAC) against fourth seed and host Marist (30-17-2, 16-11 MAAC) at 8:00 p.m. The championship game is slated for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. The winner will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Stags have made the remarkable turnaround and given themselves a shot at their first NCAA bid by posting solid numbers in every facet of the game. Over the last 27 games, Fairfield is batting .290, with 37 home runs, and a team ERA of 4.60. One constant all year long has been the consistency of the defense which has put up a .962 fielding percentage, a mark that would be the program's best ever if the season were to end today. The Stags have also set a team record for home runs in a season, belting 43, which shattered the old record of 35 set by the 1997 team. Another set of numbers to take into consideration is the Stags' record in close games. Fairfield is 13-1 in games decided by two runs or less, including a 9-1 mark in one-run games and has come from behind to win 20 games.
Highlighting the offense is Ryan Bittner (Emerson, N.J.) who leads the team in batting average (.375), hits (60), doubles (17), slugging percentage (.565) and on base percentage (.424). The sophomore first baseman also ranks second on the squad with 30 RBI and this weekend he went 8-for-12 in a three-game sweep of Siena, stretching his hitting streak to 16 straight.
All but one of the Stag regulars has contributed at least one round-tripper to the record number of home runs hit this year. Senior right fielder Tom Lopusznick (Leonardo, N.J.) has tied his own single season home run record with 10 and senior catcher/designated hitter Paul Macchio (Carmel, N.Y.) is right behind him with nine. Three other Stags have at least five homers.
Not to be overlooked, the pitching staff has kept the Stags in every game, posting a 5.57 ERA with 15 complete games. Dan Krines (Huntington, N.Y.) has put together one of the best seasons by a Fairfield pitcher in recent memory, posting a 7-2 record with a 3.61 ERA. The sophomore righty has tossed 94.2 innings, a total that is just 3.1 innings shy of setting a new program record for innings pitched in a season. Following Krines in the rotation has been junior righty Steve Colcord (N. Hampton, N.H.) and freshman righty Paul Gorra (Quaker Hill, Conn.). Colcord dropped his first four decisions of the year, but has rebounded to earn five wins since by recording a 2.02 ERA in his last six starts and now leads the staff with 52 strikeouts and ranks second with a 4.09 ERA. Gorra has quickly made a name for himself, posting a 4-2 mark during his rookie campaign.
The bullpen has also been an integral part of the Stags' success. Senior Dave Catelotti (Adams, Mass.) is Fairfield's "go-to-guy" in long relief and as a spot starter, earning five wins in a team-leading 16 appearances. Junior Mike Contorno (Collegeville, Pa.) earned the closer role and has thrived in tight situations. The 5-foot-7 righty, who never pitched at the collegiate level before this season, has converted three save opportunities and has also earned two wins in relief.
"We new the beginning of the season was the toughest part of our schedule and that we had to keep believing in ourselves," said 16th year head coach John Slosar about the team's turnaround. "We won some games and became a very confident team. These players have been clutch, handle pressure real well and love close games."
