Baseball Tops George Mason 3-1 in 11 Innings

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Fairfield University baseball team scored twice in the top of the 11th inning to pull out a 3-1 victory at George Mason University this afternoon.

Starters Mike Wallace and Anthony Montefusco dueled it out on the hill for 7.0 innings. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when George Mason broke through on one-out RBI double by Blaise Fernandez. After intentionally walking Montefucso, Wallace got the double play he needed to get out of the inning.

The Stags got the run right back in the top of the seventh. Jack Giannini led off with a single. Sophomore Brendan Tracy laid down a bunt to advance the runner, but the Patriots committed a pair of errors on the play allowing Giannini to score and tie the game.

The game would remain knotted at 1-1 until the top of the 11th inning. Sophomore Jake Salpietro led off with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Giannini. After Tracy was intentionally walked, Billy Zolga drew a walk of his own to load the bases. Reliever Mark Makismow then plunked rookie Troy Scocca which forced in the go-ahead run and gave Scocca his first collegiate RBI. Junior Sal Ciccone added the insurance run with a sacrifice fly to plate Tracy and make it 2-1.

Reliever Tucker Panciera shut the door on George Mason in the bottom of the 11th for his first win of the year. Panciera tossed 4.0 innings of scoreless relief, scattering two hits and a walk while striking out two batters.

Wallace and Montefusco received no-decisions despite stellar outings. Wallace scattered one run on five hits with six strikeouts in 7.0 innings while Montefusco went 7.0 innings, allowing an unearned run on six hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Salpietro and Scocca each went 2-for-4 on the day while Ryan Plourde went 2-for-5 with a double.

Fairfield (2-4) and George Mason (8-4) will close out the series on Sunday, March 9 with a doubleheader beginning at 12pm.

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