Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – A rain delay did not put a damper on the bat of Tucker Nathans as the senior went 3-for-4 at the plate to become Fairfield University's career hits leader and help power the Stags to a 9-3 victory at Army this afternoon at Doubleday Field.

 

Nathans finished the day with three doubles, a walk, two RBI, and three runs scored. Nathans, who has appeared in all 169 games over the last four seasons, has accrued 229 career hits, breaking Ryan Bittner's record of 228 that was set in 2002. In addition, Nathans tied a Fairfield single game record with his three doubles, a feat that had not occurred since 2009. The second baseman also brought his career doubles total to 53, and is now five away from tying the program record set by Mike Pike in 1996. Nathans ranks in Fairfield's career top-10 in nearly every offensive category.

 

Junior Mark Skrapits had an outstanding day at the plate for the Stags as well, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, three RBI, and a run scored.

 

Once play got underway after a one-hour rain delay, Nathans led the game off with a double down the right field line and scored on a single to center by Skrapits. Fairfield went on to load the bases with one out in the first, but could not capitalize. Army tied it up in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI single by J.T. Watkins but would not score again until the eighth inning.

 

In the top of the second, Nathans tied Fairfield's career hits record with another double down the right field line, this time driving in Ryan Plourde and giving the Stags the 2-1 lead. Larry Cornelia who walked earlier in the inning, would score on a wild pitch to make it 3-1 before Nathans scored on a balk to put the Stags ahead, 4-1.

 

Cornelia drew a walk to start the fourth inning and stole second. Nathans then stepped to the plate and delivered his historic hit – a double to right center – to plate Cornelia and make it a 5-1 game. Skrapits followed with a double to left to score Nathans. The Stags added two more runs to leave the frame with an 8-1 advantage.

 

Skrapits made it 9-1 in the top of the seventh with a single right center scoring Plourde, who reached on an error to lead off the inning. Army (11-14) added two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on solo home runs by Joey Henshaw and Cody Murtle. The game was called in the top of the ninth because of darkness.

 

Junior Brett Shulick notched the win after going four innings, scattering one run on five hits with two strikeouts, to improve to 2-1 on the season. Junior Gavin McCullough threw two innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit. Sophomore Kyle Capaldo tossed an inning of scoreless relief, giving up just one hit. Colin Briant took the loss for Army after allowing seven runs on five hits and six walks in three innings of work.

 

Fairfield (8-15), which snapped a five-game skid with today's victory, returns to action this weekend against MAAC foe Niagara University. The Stags and Purple Eagles square off in a doubleheader beginning at 12pm on Saturday, April 9 followed by a single game on April 10 at 12pm.