Baseball 3/9/2014 8:22:00 PM Fairfield University

Baseball Takes Series at George Mason with Doubleheader Split

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Fairfield University baseball team split a doubleheader this afternoon at George Mason University. After falling 9-4 in the opener, the Stags bounced back with a 6-1 win in the finale to take the series from the Patriots.

Jack Giannini went a combined 4-for-8 on the day, including three hits in the night cap, with two RBI while Billy Zolga was a combined 3-for-6 with two runs scored. Junior Sal Ciccone was a combined 2-for-4 with two walks and two sacrifices.

Fairfield is back in action, March 14-16, with a three-game series against Delaware. Due to weather-related issues, the series has been moved to Harford Community College in Bel Air, Md.

Game One Recap

George Mason got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after a costly two-out error by Fairfield. The Patriots made it 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning as Luke Willis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run.

The Stags were hitless through the first three and two-third innings. With Ryan Plourde standing at first after drawing a walk, Giannini registered Fairfield's first hit of the day with a two-out single. Zolga followed with a single up the middle to plate Plourde and make it 2-1. Despite loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, George Mason only managed one run for the 3-1 advantage.

Fairfield got the offense going in the top of the seventh inning posting three runs to overtake George Mason. With one out, Ciccone singled. Mason reliever Evan Porcella then walked the bases loaded and issued a walk to Plourde to force in Ciccone. With two outs and the bases still loaded, Riley Coverdale threw consecutive wild pitches which resulted in two runs for the Stags to make the score 4-3.

George Mason got all three runs back in the bottom of the seventh inning to regain lead. The Patriots added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for the 9-4 advantage and held off Fairfield for the win.

Junior EJ Ashworth received the no-decision after scattering two runs, one earned, on six hits with four strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Anthony DiMauro took the loss after allowing three runs in the seventh. Patriots starter Jared Gaynor received the no-decision as well after scattering one run on four hits with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Rich Mcmahon picked up the win after tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Game Two Recap

The Stags jumped on the Patriots in the top of the first inning. Rob LoPinto led off with a single and later scored on a sac fly by Jake Salpietro. LoPinto got the Stags going again in the top of the third as the senior drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a double by Plourde. With two outs in the inning, Giannini singled through the left side allowing Plourde to score for the 3-0 lead.

George Mason's lone run of the day came in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly. Fairfield, meanwhile, pushed a run across the plate in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to open up a 6-1 lead. With runners on second and third with no one out in the fourth inning, Michael Conti drove in a run with a ground ball to second base. In the fifth, Plourde led off with a single and stole second. He later came home on a double by Giannini. The Stags' final run of the day came in the sixth inning as Ciccone drew a bases loaded walk to force in Zolga.

Sophomore Aaron Howell had another solid outing, going 5.0 innings in which he allowed just one unearned run on four hits with three strikeouts. Sophomore Joe Randallshut the door on the Patriots in the final two innings, retiring six of the seven batters he faced, striking out two batters while issuing one walk.

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