JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Fairfield University baseball team opened the season with a doubleheader loss at the University North Florida this afternoon. The Ospreys edged the Stags, 5-3, in the opener and clipped them, 5-4, in the nightcap.
 
Sophomores Brendan Tracy and Jake Salpietro picked up three hits apiece for the Stags. Jack Giannini extended his hitting streak to eight games, finishing the day with two hits, including a homer, and three RBI. Ryan Plourde extended his on-base streak to 20 games, going a combined 2-for-5 with two walks and a run scored.
 
Game One Recap

Fairfield took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior Alex Witkus reached on an error to start things off while Rob LoPinto and Plourde followed with singles. After a double steal, Giannini delivered a RBI single to put the Stags on the board. A sac fly by Sebastian Salvo made it 2-0. The Stags added another run in the top of the second as Tracy led off with a double and later scored on an error.
 
The Ospreys got on the board in the bottom of the second on a RBI single. North Florida took over the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on a RBI double followed by two-run homer by Donnie Dewees. The Ospreys added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning for the 5-3 advantage.
 
 Sophomore Mike Wallace took the loss, going 5.0 innings and allowing four runs on 10 hits with a strikeout. David Trexler (1-0) picked up the win scattering three runs, two earned, on eight hits in 5.2 innings while Dan VanSickle picked up the save, tossing 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.
 
Game Two Recap

The Stags struck first putting up two runs in the top of the third on a sac fly by Giannini and a RBI double by Salpietro. The Ospreys tied it up in the bottom half of the inning on a homer and a double. North Florida pushed three runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning to take 5-2 lead.
 
The Stags got their bats going as rookie Zac Candelaria and Giannini delivered back-to-back home runs with two outs to pull the Stags within 5-4. North Florida got out of the inning but the Stags rallied once more in the top of the ninth. Witkus singled to start the inning while Dean Sadik reached on a fielder's choice. With one out, both runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. With two away, Salpietro drew a walk but Ryan McMahon was able to get the final out of the game.
 
Junior EJ Ashworth took the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on nine hits with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Junior Tucker Panciera pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief, scattering five hits. Evan Incinelli (2-0) notched the winning, going 6.0 innings and scattering two runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts. McMahon picked up the save.
 
Fairfield (0-2) and North Florida (4-2) conclude the series tomorrow, February 23, at 1pm.