RICHMOND, Va. – The Fairfield University baseball team fell at the University of Richmond, 8-0, this afternoon to close out the series with the Spiders. Six Stags had hits, including sophomore Brendan Tracy who went 2-for-4 on the day.
 
Richmond (2-8) jumped on the Stags in the bottom of the first inning, pushing three runs across the play. Tanner Stanley got things started with a leadoff triple. Stanley scored on a groundout by Mike Small. After Doug Kraeger reached, the Spiders received an RBI double by Matt Dacey and a RBI single by Ryan Cook to make it 3-0.
 
Fairfield (1-4) threatened in the top of the second after junior Billy Zolga led off with a single. Zolga moved all the way around to third but was left stranded. The Stags threatened again in the top of the fifth inning, putting runners on first and second with two outs. Richmond was able to get out the jam and keep Fairfield off the board.
 
Sophomore Aaron Howell, making his first start of the year, settled down after the first inning, allowing just two baserunners between the second and fifth innings. Richmond got their bats going in the sixth inning, plating four runs for the 7-0 lead. The Spiders added another run in the seventh inning on a Dacey solo homer.
 
Howell (0-1) took the loss, going 5.0 innings and allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits while striking out four batters. Sophomore Joe Randall made his collegiate debut, tossing 2.0 innings of relief, allowing one run on one hit and a walk with a strikeout. Junior Jeremy Soule made his season debut, going one inning with a walk and a strikeout.  
 
Zak Sterling picked up the win, throwing 6.0 shutout innings and scattering five hits while striking out four batters. Cook threw 3.0 innings of relief, allowing just two hits while striking out three batters.
 
Fairfield returns to action next weekend when they travel to George Mason for a three-game series beginning on March 7.