Baseball 3/22/2014 11:29:00 PM Fairfield University

Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Iona to Open MAAC Play

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University baseball team opened Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this afternoon with a doubleheader split with Iona College at City Park. The Stags took the first game 10-8 but dropped the nightcap 5-0.

Senior Rob LoPinto and junior Alex Witkus each had four hits on the day.

Fairfield (5-10; 1-1 MAAC) and Iona (2-10; 1-1 MAAC) will close out the series tomorrow, March 23, at 12pm.

Game One Recap: The Stags scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning and hung on of the 10-8 victory over Iona to win their MAAC opener. LoPinto was a homer short of the cycle, going 4-for-6 with three RBIs and a run scored. Witkus went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and three stolen bases.

Fairfield got on the board in the top of the first inning. LoPinto led off with an infield single and came around to score on a RBI single by Jake Salpietro. Iona tied it up in the bottom of the second as Zack Brown scored on a RBI single by Chris Russo that fell into leftfield.

The Stags got the run back in the top of the third as Witkus led off with a single, stole second, and later scored on a groundball off the bat of Michael Conti. With one out in the top of the fourth inning, Jack Giannini perfectly placed a bunt down the third base line to reach. He later scored on an error to give the Stags a 3-1 advantage.

With two on and one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, the game was delayed 15 minutes due to an issue with the outfield fencing. After the delay, Travis Mistretta doubled to left to plate Christian Choman while Brown was thrown out at the plate. The Stags were able to get out of the inning with a 3-2 lead.

Fairfield loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth inning to chase starter Kenny Dietrich. The Gaels were able to get a groundball and a force out at home for the second out of the inning. A wild pitch allowed Plourde to score from third to make it 4-2. Iona was able to get out of the inning without any further damage. With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Witkus bunted for a base hit. After swiping second base, Witkus trotted home on a RBI double by LoPinto to extend the lead to 5-2. Fairfield added another run in the top of the seventh after Giannini poked a single through the left side to plate Plourde.

Iona threatened in the bottom of the seventh as the Stags walked the bases loaded with one out. Joe Randall checked into the game and got the inning-ending double play to help Fairfield escape the inning. The Gaels loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning with no outs. A sac fly by Russo made it 6-3 while Bobby Vitulano made it a two-run game with a two-out single down the left field line. Iona then tied it up on a single by Joe Torres.

The Stags scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to overtake the Gaels, 10-6. Salpietro led off with a single, advanced to second a sac bunt by Giannini, and then scored when Sebastian Salvo roped a single to centerfield. With two outs, Sal Ciccone singled to third base while Witkus followed with a single through the left side to plate Salvo. LoPinto cleared the bases with a triple to centerfield to give the Stags a four-run lead.

Iona rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning pushing two runs across the plate. With the bases loaded and one out, LoPinto turned the game-ending double play to preserve the win.

Anthony DiMauro picked up the win while Christian Fox picked up his first save of the season. Starter EJ Ashworth received the no-decision. He went 4.0 innings scattering two runs on five hits.

Game Two Recap: The Gaels received an impressive pitching performance from Mariano Rivera to top the Stags, 5-0. Rivera tossed the complete game shutout, holding the Stags to just two hits on the day.

Iona took advantage of a Fairfield error in the bottom of the second inning. The Stags miscue led to two unearned runs as Tyler Bruno cleared the bases with a two-out double. Iona added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and pushed out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Aaron Howell went 5.0 innings, allowing five runs, two earned, on eight hits.

Print Friendly Version