Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn.  – The Fairfield University baseball team split a doubleheader with Niagara University this afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action at Alumni Diamond. The Stags won the opener, 13-7, while the Purple Eagles pulled out a 4-1 win in extra innings.
 
Junior Ryan Plourde went a combined 5-for-5 on the day with two walks, three runs scored, two stolen bases, and one run batted in. Freshman Keith Skinner went a combined 3-for-5 with three runs scored and one batted in.
 
In the first game, Fairfield was trailing 2-1 in when the Stags broke it open with a six-run third inning. Fairfield added two more runs in the fourth inning as Plourde tripled in a run and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Stags the 9-2 lead. Niagara added a run in the fifth inning and then scored four runs in the sixth inning to pull within 9-7. The Stags answered in the bottom of the eighth inning with a four-spot to put the game out of reach.
 
Rookie Mike Wallace, who was named Fairfield University's Male Freshman Athlete of the Year last night, improved to 4-3 on the season after scattering five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. Sophomore Anthony DiMauro picked up his fourth save of the year by throwing 3.2 innings of scoreless and hitless relief with two strikeouts.
 
While the first game was a slugfest, the nightcap was pitchers' duel. Both teams went scoreless until the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Niagara's Thomas Rodrigues was hit by a pitch to force in the first run of the game. The Stags defense got them out of the jam, turning a double play and getting the final batter of the inning to foul out. Fairfield tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the sixth inning as Rob LoPinto led the frame off with a double and later scored as Niagara turned a double play. Niagara (14-28; 8-9 MAAC) broke the stalemate in the top of the eighth inning by pushing three runs across the plate. Starter Jordan Schwartz retired the Stags in order in the bottom of the eighth for the win.
 
Schwartz (3-4) tossed the complete game for the win, holding the Stags to one run on six hits with six strikeouts. Sophomore EJ Ashworth (1-4) took the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on 10 hits in 7.1 innings of work.
 
Fairfield (12-24; 4-10 MAA) and Niagara close out the series tomorrow at 12pm on Alumni Diamond.