Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University baseball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader with Saint Peter's University this afternoon at Alumni Diamond. The Stags downed the Peacocks, 7-1, in the opener but saw their comeback fall short in the nightcap, falling 8-7.
 
Sophomore Sal Ciccone went a combined 5-for-6 on the day with a triple and a sacrifice, three runs scored, and three RBI. Junior Ryan Plourde went a combined 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBI while extending his hitting streak to 17 games and his on-base streak to 25 games.
 
Freshman Mike Wallace tossed a gem in the opener, scattering one run and five hits with four strikeouts in 7.0 innings to improve to 3-2 this season. After allowing a run in the top of the first inning, Wallace settled down, retiring 10 of the next 12 batters he faced.
 
The Stags (9-16; 3-5 MAAC) tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double by sophomore Sebastian Salvo. Fairfield broke the stalemate in the bottom of the sixth inning as three Saint Peter's errors led to a pair of runs and a 3-1 advantage for the Stags. In the eighth inning, Fairfield played small ball to generate four runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Ciccone bunted for a base hit to drive in a run. A groundout by Mike Maschi gave the Stags a 5-1 lead. Saint Peter's seemed to be out of the jam after getting Rob LoPinto to pop up, but the ball was dropped allowing LoPinto to reach and two runs to score. The Peacocks' Kevin Croucher retired the next batter to get out of the inning. Senior Kyle Capaldo retired the Peacocks in order in the top of the ninth for his first save of the year. Zach Hopf (1-5) was charged with the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits in 7.0 innings.
 
In the second game, the Stags chipped away at a six-run deficit and scored three runs in their final at-bat, but Fairfield's rally fell short. Saint Peter's (9-16; 3-2 MAAC) took an early 6-0 lead after scoring three runs in the top of the first inning and three more in the third. Fairfield cut the gap to 6-2 in the bottom of the third on an RBI triple by Ciccone and a sacrifice fly by Jack Giannini. In the bottom of the fourth, Plourde pulled the Stags within 6-4 with a two-run homer off the leftfield scoreboard. Fairfield then loaded the bases but Saint Peter's was able to escape the inning.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Peacocks would score what proved to be two crucial runs on a double by Matt Speckmann which made the score 8-4. In the bottom of the inning, Ciccone led off with a single while Alex Witkus bunted for a base hit. With two on and one out, LoPinto singled down the left field line to drive in Ciccone. Senior Anthony Hajjar cleared the bases with a double to make the score 8-7 while advancing to third on a throw. Plourde followed with a walk but closer Ethan Jackson was able to retire the final two batters to preserve the win.
 
Sophomore Jeremy Soule took the loss after a tough 2.1 innings of work in which he allowed six runs, three earned, with four strikeouts. Sophomore Andrew Gallagher threw 4.1 innings of relief, allowing a run on one hit with two strikeouts. Matthew Yuhas (4-2) picked up the win going 6.0 innings and allowing six runs on 10 hits.
 
Fairfield and Saint Peter's will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow, April 7, at 12pm on Alumni Diamond.