Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.  – The Fairfield University baseball team picked up a pair of crucial Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victories this afternoon as the Stags took a doubleheader from Siena College. Fairfield posted a 7-4 victory in the opener and held off the Saints, 5-3, in the nightcap.
 
Sophomore Ryan Plourde was a combined 3-for-6 on the day with a double, a home run, a walk, five RBI, and three runs scored. Plourde went 3-for-5 in the opener with five RBI.
 
Junior Jack Giannini was a combined 4-for-9 with four RBI and a run scored on the day. Rookie Alex Witkus was a combined 4-for-8 with four runs scored while Anthony Hajjar was a combined 4-for-7 with three runs scored.
 
On the hill, junior Kyle Capaldo notched a pair of saves for the Stags, tossing a combined 3.1 innings for scoreless relief allowing just one hit while striking out two batters.
 
Plourde made sure Fairfield (23-25; 11-9 MAAC) got ahead early, blasting a three-run homer in the top of the first inning of the opening game. The Stags added another run in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by Witkus for Fairfield's seventh hit and fourth run of the game. Siena (18-33; 8-12) threatened in the bottom of the third inning putting runners at the corners but Giannini ended the frame with a diving catch on a sinking line drive. Giannini gave Fairfield a 5-0 advantage in the top of the fifth with an RBI single.
 
Rookie starter EJ Ashworth, meanwhile, held the Saints to just two hits through six innings. In the seventh, Siena finally got to Ashworth as a sacrifice fly and an error led to the Saints' first run of the game and marked the end of the day for Ashworth. With one out, Vinny Citro pulled the Saints within 5-3 with a two-run double. With two away, Larry Balkwill delivered an RBI single to make it a one-run game. Citro tried to score from second base on the play but was thrown out at the plate by Giannini.
 
In the top of the ninth, Plourde drove in a pair of insurance runs with a double to give the Stags a 7-4 advantage. Capaldo closed the door on the Saints in the bottom of the ninth for his second save of the year.
 
Ashworth (4-6) got the win after allowing just four runs, three earned, on four hits with three strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Freshman Andrew Gallagher threw two-thirds of inning in relief while Capaldo tossed 2.1 hitless and scoreless innings to close out the game.            
 
Fairfield carried the momentum into the second game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning after Giannini scored on an error. Hajjar made it 2-0 in the top of the third with an RBI single of his own. Giannini drove in the Stags' third run of the game in the top of the fifth inning with a single up the middle.
 
Siena rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning, chasing starter Scott Warwick and scoring three runs to tie the game. Fairfield rose to the challenge in the top of the seventh inning. Witkus lead off with a single and advanced to second on a sac by Hajjar. Plourde then drew a walk while both runners moved up 90 feet on a balk. With two outs, Giannini came through with a single through the right side to clear the bases and give Fairfield a 5-3 lead. Siena put two runners on with no outs in the bottom half of the inning, but Capaldo checked in the game and got the final three outs for his second save of the day.
 
Junior Mark Bordonaro notched the win throwing an inning of relief to improve to 5-4 on the season. Capaldo threw a scoreless inning of relief allowing one hit for his third save of the year. Warwick got the no-decision after allowing three runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings.
 
With the victories, the Stags all but ended the Saints' postseason MAAC Tournament hopes while Fairfield stayed alive in the hunt for a playoff berth. The two teams close out the series tomorrow, May 12, at 12pm.