Weekly Notes

Fairfield takes the week off from MAAC play and will play two non-league games this week. The Stags travel to UConn on Tuesday, April 16 at 3pm on J.O. Christian Field and host Northeastern University on Wednesday, April 17 at 3:30pm on Alumni Diamond.

On the Web: UConn will be providing Live Video and GameTracker for Tuesday's game on UConnHuskies.com. As always, Live Stats are available for all home games.

Fairfield vs. UConn: UConn has taken the last eight meetings from Fairfield is 55-15-1 all-time against the Stags. Last season on April 17, UConn came from behind to defeat Fairfield, 13-8, at Alumni Diamond. The two teams combined for 21 runs, 32 hits, and five errors in a game that lasted just over three hours. Ryan Plourde went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Stags while Sal Ciccone drove in two runs and helped the Stags turn two of their three double plays on the day. Fairfield's last victory over the Huskies came on April 25, 2006 in the form of a 5-4 victory.

A Look at the UConn Huskies (22-13; 8-4 Big East): UConn is coming off a three-game sweep of Villanova over the weekend. Vinny Siena is hitting a team-best .333 with 23 runs scored while LJ Mazzilli is batting .310 with a team-high 32 runs scored and 28 RBI. Mazzilli is also a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen bases this season.

Fairfield vs. Northeastern: The Stags and the Huskies will meet for the first time since 2009 and for just the 14th time in program history. In their last meeting on March 3, 2009 in Florida, Northeastern edged the Stags, 5-4. Fairfield has lost the last five meetings with Northeastern and is 4-9 all-time against them. The Stag' last victory against the Huskies came on April 17, 1982 when they took the first game of a doubleheader at Northeastern, 8-6.

A Look at the Northeastern Huskies (21-15; 7-8 CAA):  Northeastern has won five of its last seven games but is coming off a 5-4 loss to Richmond on Sunday. Connor Lyons is hitting .323 with 26 runs scored and 12 stolen bases while Aaron Barbosa is batting .315 with 31 runs scored and has stolen 19 bases in 19 attempts.

Last Time Out: Fairfield was swept by Marist over the weekend. The Red Foxes edged the Stags, 4-2, in the opener, took the middle game, 6-3, before clipping them 4-2 in the finale on Sunday.  

Still Going: Junior Ryan Plourde has reached base in all 30 games this season. He had his 18-game hitting streak snapped against Yale on April 10. The streak tied the program record for longest hitting streak. The feat was also accomplished by Ryan Bittner in 2000 and Mike Svab in 1990.

Heating Up: Centerfielder Alex Witkus is riding a six-game hitting streak in which he is hitting .389 (7-for-18) with five runs scored. Rob LoPinto and Jake Salpietro are both riding seven-game hitting streaks.

Keeping it Close: Thirteen of the Stags' 30 games have been decided by two runs or less. Fairfield is 5-8 in those contests.

With a Lead: Fairfield is 6-1 when leading after seven innings and 7-1 when leading after eight innings. The only loss in that span came on April 7 when Saint Peter's scored nine runs in the ninth to overtake them.

Looking Ahead: Fairfield has two non-league games versus in-state rivals next week, hosting Sacred Heart on April 23 before heading to New Britain to face Central Connecticut State. The Stags will then host Niagara University for a three-game MAAC series, April 27-28, at Alumni Diamond.