FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield pitching staff has recorded an ERA just above 1.00 in their last three games and will look to use that pitching excellence in a classic battle between hitting and pitching. The Niagara Purple Eagles, the MAAC leader in average and runs, will take on a Fairfield team that has allowed two runs or fewer in six of their last seven games. The two teams will meet for a three game series at Alumni Diamond starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Stags hung toe-to-toe with American Athletic Conference power UConn, but fell to the Huskies 2-1 in their lone weekday contest. The pitching continued to impress as the staff allowed just a solo homer in the first and a sacrifice fly in the fourth to account for the Huskies' lone two runs. The offense went through senior Jake Salpietro who knocked the first three hits for the Stags, who went on to record six base knocks. The Stags continued to fight, but UConn made every pitch they needed to by forcing three double plays.
FAIRFIELD VS NIAGARA: The two teams did not meet last season and have split the two series in 2013 and 2014. Before losing the series in 2013, the Stags had won eight of nine against the Purple Eagles, including two-straight series sweeps. Fairfield leads the all-time series 33-17.
THE PURPLE EAGLES SCOUTING REPORT: Offense has been the word to define the 2016 Niagara Purple Eagles, coming into the series leading the MAAC in average, runs, hits, and stolen bases. The leader of their power is Senior Class candidate Michael Fuhrman who is the conference leader in average (.402) and hits (47). The D1Baseball.com pick to win the MAAC Player of the Year in the preseason, was the league leader in on-base-percentage last season which helped him to an All-MAAC Second Team selection. The pitching for Niagara has been on the other side of the coin, holding 7.45 ERA but has only given up more than four runs in just one of their last seven games.
UP NEXT: The Stags will have two weekday games on the slate this upcoming week starting with a brief road trip to the Bronx, N.Y., for a game against Fordham on Tuesday at 6pm.
