THOMASVILLE, N.C. – For the first time in program history, the Fairfield University baseball team will start the season 3-0. The Stags completed the season-opening sweep of Delaware State in convincing fashion scoring another 14 runs on 18 hits, to defeat the Hornets 14-1 in Thomasville, N.C. Combined with yesterday's double header, the Stags scored 39 runs, which is the most during the first three games of a season in program history.

The Stags (3-0) scored in seven of the nine innings of the game, including the first four. Drew Arciuolo, who has gotten the leadoff nod in the first series, started things with a walk to leadoff the game. He would later score the game's first run after a Brendan Tracy single forced an errant throw home.

For the first time in the series, however, the Stags faced some adversity. Delaware State (0-8) tied the contest in the bottom half of the first inning after right fielder Jaylen Zielecki drove home Niko Cribb with a double.

It would only take the Stags three batters to regain the lead. Freshman Jack Gethings laced his third career hit to bring home Dan Hopkins. The Stags would plate two more runs in the frame on the benefit of just one hit. Kevin Radziewicz hit a sacrifice fly into center and Michael Conti would score on a passed ball.

The Stags used more power for their runs in the third inning. Troy Scocca knocked his second homer of the season to lead off the third frame, and Conti laced a RBI double scoring Gethings.

Brendan Tracy and Jake Salpietro got into the hit parade in the fourth. Tracy hit the first triple of the season which scored Radziewicz, and Salpietro would bring his fellow senior home with a single.

That was more than Aaron Howell would need his securing his first win of the season. After allowing a first inning run, Howell would settle in, allowing two more hits as he hurled six innings. Howell would walk just one batter and struck out four before giving way to Mike Bonaiuto and Ryan O'Connor who combined to throw three shutout innings.

Drew Blake had the big hit the rest of the way for the Stags, as his two-run homer in the eighth inning put the Stags in double digits.

While the clutch hits will stick out when people look at the crooked numbers the Stags put up, you won't see how aggressive they were in taking the extra base. Fairfield swiped 12 bases in the opening series (three on Sunday), after stealing just 31 all of last season.

The 3-0 record marks the best start in program history, and the 39 combined runs surpasses the 30 runs which the 1971 squad scored in their first three games. That was the first Division I season for the Stags.

Fairfield will put their program record, and their offensive success, to the test as they begin an ACC trip, starting with No. 10 North Carolina on Friday, with the traditional three game weekend series kicking off at 3pm.