Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va.  – Junior Rob LoPinto drove in two runs in the top of the 11th inning to lift the Fairfield University baseball team to a 5-3 victory over George Mason University on a snowy afternoon at Spuhler Field. LoPinto was 3-for-6 on the afternoon with two RBI.
 
With one out in the top of the 11th inning, freshman Jake Salpietro singled and stole second base. Sophomore Alex Witkus then used his speed for an infield single which moved Salpietro to third. After Witkus stole second, the Patriots intentionally walked Dean Sadik to load the bases. LoPinto poked a single through the left side to drive in two runs and give the Stags the 5-3 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the 11th, George Mason put runners on second and third with one out after a wild pitch. After getting the second out of the inning, the Stags intentionally walked the red-hot Tucker Tobin to load the bases. Freshman hurler Mike Wallace was able to get Blaise Fernandez to lineout to third base to end the game for his first collegiate victory.
 
Wallace (1-0) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, scattering three hits while striking out two batters.
 
The entire contest was a see-saw battle in between snow flurries. George Mason took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after a Fairfield defensive miscue later led to a run. Fairfield tied it up in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Jack Giannini which plated Anthony Hajjar.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Tobin blasted his fourth home run of the year to tie the game, 2-2. The Patriots threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners at second and third with two outs. A base running error on a botched double steal allowed the Stags to get out of the inning unscathed.
 
In the top of the eighth inning, Ryan Plourde tied it up with one swing of the bat, hitting his first homer of the season. Giannini followed with a base hit and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Pinch hitter Mike Bennett hit a blooper to right field which squirted past the right fielder, allowing Giannini to score easily and give the Stags the 3-2 lead.
 
Tobin led off the bottom of the eighth with a double and came around to score on a double by Fernandez to tie the game once again. The Patriots, however, left Fernandez stranded at second base as sophomores Andrew Gallagher and Anthony DiMauro combined to retire the next three batters.
 
George Mason had their chances in the ninth and tenth innings, but could not crack the scoreboard.            
 
Sophomore EJ Ashworth received the no-decision after allowing two runs, one earned, with three strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work. George Mason starter Jared Gaynor also received the no-decision, after allowing one run on seven hits with four strikeouts in 7.0 innings.
 
Giannini was 3-for-5 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases. Salpietro and Witkus were both 2-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base.
 
Fairfield (3-2) and George Mason (5-4) will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow, March 3, at 1pm.