FAIRFIELD, Conn. – If the MAAC Coaches could predict the future, the next three games will be a preview of the MAAC Championship. The Stags, who were chosen second in the preseason poll, will make the nearly eight hour drive to Buffalo, N.Y., to face the first place team in the MAAC preseason release in the Canisius Golden Griffins. The two teams will battle the cold to try and play a three game series. Sunday is expected to be a double header starting at 12pm followed by a single game on Monday at 12pm.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Stags are coming off their first come from behind win of the season as they defeated the current America East leaders in the Hartford Hawks 7-3 in 10 innings. Fairfield trailed by one run in the ninth inning with no runners on base but were able to find that two out rally. Michael Conti started the rally with one of his team leading three hits on the night and would eventually score the game-tying run on a wild pitch, Billy Zolga singled
in what would prove to be the game winning run in the tenth. Kevin Radziewicz would add an insurance run in the same frame as the Stags scored five runs off of the Hartford closer.
The Stags used a total of seven pitchers in getting their first win over Hartford since 2009. All of the pitchers contributed as Andrew Gallagher got the first win of the season as he finished the game with three innings of scoreless relief. Ryan O'Connor picked up two scoreless innings of relief as he has not allowed a run in 7.1 innings this season. David Sacco and Mike Bonaiuto both notched perfect innings in their outings.
WHAT A COMEBACK!: The non-conference road win against Hartford marked the first comeback win of the season for the Stags as they trailed by one run in the ninth inning. The rally started with two outs and no runners on. It was the first time that the Stags have won a game after trailing in the ninth inning since May 18, 2012 in the final game of the regular season against Marist. In that contest, the Stags were also down to their final out before Ryan Plourde hit a solo shot and Rob LoPinto singled in the tying run as he was down to his final strike.
BULLPEN HANGS TOUGH: Over the last five games the Stags bullpen has held tough to their opposition. The non-starters have pitched to a 3.92 ERA allowing just nine runs in their 20.2 innings.
Four pitchers have not allowed a run during that span with Ryan O'Connor leading the way with two scoreless innings.
Joe Randall has the most appearances with three in the last five games. Hitters are batting .214 against the righty.
CAREER YEAR FOR O'CONNOR: Ryan O'Connor has not allow a run in his first 7.1 innings pitched this season, the longest streak of the team.
Last season, O'Connor pitched a total 4.2 innings and allowed five runs during that span.
CONTI STARTING OUT HOT: Michael Conti has gotten off to the best start of his career with 13 singles in his first 37 at-bats. Conti started off the season with six hits in his first 13 at bats. Last season, Conti had only two hits in his first 16 at bats and finished the season with 15 hits overall.
Conti had three hits in two games this season and scored a career-high three runs against UCF.
FAIRFIELD VS. CANISIUS: The Stags and the Griffs will be meeting for the 53rd time in program history with the Stags holding a slim 27-25 lead in the series and a 14-11 edge in Buffalo. The two teams played four games against each other last season, with Canisius defeating the Stags 6-1 in the MAAC Championships last season. Alex Witkus is the leading hitter for the Stags with a .324 career batting average against the Griffs with 12 hits and 11 runs scored. Dean Sadik has also been productive in the prior meetings with a .238 batting average against Canisius with five hits in his 21 at-bats. Sebastian Salvo has played in one game against the Griffs and went 2-for-5 in that contest. On the mound, Mike Wallace has seen 13 innings against Canisius and holds a 2.77 ERA while EJ Ashworth has thrown 20.1 innings versus the Buffalo team and holds a 4.48 ERA.
SCOUTING THE GRIFFS: The MAAC Preseason favorites come into the series with a 10-14 overall record and fresh off an 8-5 loss in 11 inning to Buffalo which snapped a three game winning streak. Those three games came against Iona, which puts the Griffs 3-0 in the MAAC.
As a team, the Griffs are out-hitting their opponents with a .267 batting average and currently hold the best offense in the league. The Griffs lead the MAAC in walks, batting average, doubles, hits, home runs, hit by pitches, on-base percentage, triples, and slugging percent- age. The Preseason Player of the Year, Connor Panas, is the best hitter among the sluggers with four home runs, a .370 average, and has reached base 47 percent of the time. As with every power team, their weakness is the strikeout as the Griffs have averaged 8.8 strikeout-per-game. On the mound, the Griffs have three quality starters with righty Devon Stewart leading the way with 26 strikeouts, already just 17 fewer than he had last season. Stewart is 2-4 on the year and supports a 3.35 ERA. Reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week, J.P. Stevenson has held hitters to a .204 batting average with a 2.57 ERA. Arguably the MAAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, lefty Alex Godzak has struggled out of the games with a 4.50 ERA but is 3-1 with a .229 batting average against.
UP NEXT: The Stags will travel to another non-conference foe when they go to Hempstead, N.Y., to take on Hofstra on Tuesday at 3:30pm.
