Baseball Nipped By 'Nova 4-3

Box Score

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – The Fairfield University baseball team was edged by Big East foe Villanova University, 4-3, this afternoon in a non-league meeting at Villanova Ballpark.

The Wildcats (8-10) struck first in the bottom of the opening frame on an RBI single by David Koczirka. Villanova added two more runs on a wild pitch and an error in the bottom of the second inning. Connor Jones gave the Wildcats a 4-0 lead in the third with an RBI double, a hit that would prove to be the game-winner.

Fairfield (5-8) got on the board in the top of the seventh as Tyler Wosleger, who led off with a single, scored on a bunt by Ryan Furbeck. With one out and runners on second and third, Larry Cornelia singled, allowing senior Chris Horning to score. Senior Tucker Nathans followed with a single to right field to score Furbeck and pull the Stags within 4-3. Villanova's Kevin MacLachlan checked into the game and was able to hold off the Stags and preserve the Wildcats' lead.

Horning doubled with two outs in the top of the eighth to put a runner in scoring position for the Stags, but Villanova was able to get the final out of the inning. Mike Francisco retired the side in the top of the ninth for his fifth save of the season.

Graduate student Scott Gussaroff fanned nine batters in eight innings and scattered four runs, two earned, on six hits but was tagged with the loss. Kyle McMyne (3-2) notched the win after allowing just three hits and striking out eight batters in six scoreless innings of work.

At the plate, Horning finished the day 2-for-4 for the Stags. With his one hit on the day, Nathans brought his career total to 221 and continues to close in on Fairfield's career record of 228 set by Ryan Bittner.

The Stags wrap up their Philadelphia-area road swing on Sunday, March 20 when they visit Saint Joseph's University.

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