FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Mac Crispino's two-run blast in the seventh inning was not only his first career home run, but it also spoiled UMASS' Mike Geannelis' pitching gem, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead. Michael Conti added a RBI single in the eighth and Aaron Howell converted the four-out save as the Stags were victorious in their final mid-week game of the season, taking a 4-2 decision over UMASS.

“It was a curveball up in the count,” Crispino recalled of the blast. “I knew he was going to throw a curveball because he was spinning it all day long. It felt good, I didn't really feel it off the bat. The wind might have been blowing out a little bit but it was a good swing.”

Crispino's blast reinforced the theme of this team to fight for every pitch. The Stags (27-23) could not muster anything against the tall right hander of UMASS (15-27) as Geannelis did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, and only surrendered two base knocks prior to Crispino's shot.

The Stags tied the game in the fourth inning after Drew Arciuolo led off the frame with the first hit for Fairfield on the day, singling to right field. The sophomore found himself at third with one out after Conti did a nice job moving the runner over, leaving Jake Salpietro an opportunity to drive in the run. He did so with a groundout, extending his team-leading RBI total to 35.

The bullpen of the Stags kept the score at 1-1 until the seventh when Hunter Carey dribbled a soft grounder to the shortstop with the infield playing in, and the ball was hit just slow enough for Vinny Scifo to score ahead of the throw.

Crispino's blast was set up after Kevin Radziewicz reached on a dropped fly ball, setting the scene for Crispino.

With only a one-run lead, Conti, the reigning NEIBA Player of the Week, continued his clutch hitting, lacing a RBI single to give the Stags a 4-2 lead. Howell, who lowered his bullpen ERA to under 2.00, earning his fifth save of the season, allowing a lone walk in his 1.1 innings pitched.

Besides Conti, Crispino has also enjoyed a streak full of timely hitting. The first baseman tallied run scoring singles in both of Fairfield's wins over Monmouth before coming up with the long ball today.

“He's been hitting better the last three weeks,” Head Coach Bill Currier said. “He's upped his average and is swinging from both sides of the plate well.”

This victory is the 12th come-from-behind victory for the Stags this season, and those wins have built a certain character of this team that they hope to carry into this vital weekend and then into the MAAC tournament.

“It's what we've done all year,” Crispino said. “Regardless of the score or the inning, we stick with games like this. We know that if we're down late we are probably going to come back because we have the faith. We also have the faith in our pitchers to close it out, and we've had that confidence all year round.”

The Stags will now enter their final series of the regular season, welcoming Quinnipiac to Alumni Diamond for a three-game series starting with a noon doubleheader on Thursday. One win over the Bobcats will guarantee the Stags at least a share the MAAC regular season championship, something they have not done since the 1983 season.

Two wins over Quinnipiac will guarantee that this group, will be the number one seed.