BEL AIR, Md. – The Fairfield University baseball team dropped the series opener with the University of Delaware, 10-2, this afternoon. Junior Alex Witkus went 2-for-4 on the day with a double and a run scored.
 
Fairfield (3-6) got on the board first on a solo shot by sophomore Jake Salpietro who led off the second inning with his second homer of the year. After the homer, Delaware starter Dan Gatto held Fairfield to just two hits and a walk through the next six innings.
 
Delaware (7-8) tied it in the bottom half of the second inning on a RBI single by Ty Warrington. The Blue Hens took the lead in the bottom of the third inning pushing two runs across the plate. Delaware added two runs in the bottom of the fifth before breaking it open in the sixth inning with a five-run effort.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Stags finally got to Gatto. Witkus led off with a double while Rob LoPinto followed with a single. Senior Ryan Plourde picked up the RBI with a single to left field to chase Gatto. Reliever Luke Alicknavitch checked into the game, however, and got a double play and a strikeout to end the game.
 
Gatto (3-2) picked up the win, scattering two runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 8.0 innings. Sophomore Mike Wallace (0-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Senior Christian Fox and sophomore Brett Mikolajczyk each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
 
Fairfield and Delaware continue action tomorrow at 1pm. The series is being played at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Md.