Box Score

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Fairfield University baseball team was edged in its season opener 6-5 at the College of William & Mary this evening. Senior Tucker Nathans was a triple short of the cycle, finishing the day 4-for-5 with a double, a homer, and two runs scored.

 

Junior Brett Shulick had an outstanding Fairfield debut but received the no-decision. He scattered one run on three hits with four strikeouts over seven innings.

 

The Stags (0-1) got on the board in the top of the fourth inning as Larry Cornelia scored on an error. The Tribe (1-5) tied it up in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Jonathan Slattery.

 

Nathans gave Fairfield the 2-1 lead with a solo shot to right field in the top of the eighth inning. One inning later, Mark Skrapits led off with a single and came around to score on a passed ball with two outs to make it a 3-1 game. William & Mary responded with two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game and force extra innings.

 

In the top of the tenth inning, Nathans led off with a double and advanced to third on a single by Anthony Hajjar. After Hajjar moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch, freshman Ryan Plourde delivered a pinch-hit single, driving in a pair of runs and putting the Stags on top 5-3. The Stags looked like they had shut the door on the Tribe in the bottom of the tenth, but with one on and two outs William & Mary strung together three straight hits, including the game-ending two RBI double by Ryan Williams.

 

Junior Kyle Goldstein took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in two and two-thirds innings. Reid Killen picked up the win for William & Mary after pitching a scoreless inning of relief. Tribe starter Matt Davenport got the no-decision after scattering two runs, one earned, on eight hits with six strikeouts in eight innings of work.

 

Skrapits and junior Ryan Furbeck each finished the day 2-for-5 for the Stags. For the Tribe, Williams went 3-for-5 with three runs driven in while Slattery went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

 

Fairfield continues its stay at Plumeri Park tomorrow, February 26, with a doubleheader against William & Mary. The two teams finish the series with a single game on Sunday. LiveStats will be available for all games by visiting www.tribeathletics.com.