SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Fairfield University baseball team fell to non-league foe Bryant University, 3-2, this afternoon on a chilly day at the Bryant Baseball Complex.  

Freshman Ryan Plourde went 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Stags.  

Fairfield got in the board in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Plourde reached on a defensive miscue by Bryant and was able to advance to second base. Senior Chris Horning followed with a double down the left field line to drive in Plourde. Junior Ryan Furbeck then doubled to right field to score Horning and give the Stags a 2-0 lead. 

The Bulldogs tied it up in similar fashion in the bottom of the seventh on back-to-back RBI doubles by Jordan English and Kevin Brown. The two teams went scoreless into the bottom of the ninth inning. In the last at-bat of the day, English delivered his second RBI double of the afternoon to life Bryant to the 3-2 victory. 

It was a staff day for both teams with Mark Andrews (2-1) coming away with the win for the Bulldogs and sophomore Kyle Capaldo taking the loss for the Stags. Andrews tossed the final 1.2 innings allowing just one hit. Capaldo pitched the final inning, allowing one run on two hits and a walk.

Fairfield (6-9) opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this weekend with a trip to league-leading Marist College. The Stags play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 26 followed by a single game on Sunday.