EDISON, N.J. – After leading the Stags to a series win that clinched their first regular season title in 33 years, two Stags were honored by the conference office with Mac Crispino picking up MAAC Player of the Week honors and Gavin Wallace being named the MAAC Pitcher of the Week. For both players, it is their first weekly award in their career.
“Mac has had some opportunities with guys on base and he has come through,” Head Coach Bill Currier said. “He's getting better as he goes. I'm really happy Mac has been successful with men on base. He's looking for good pitches to hit and driving the ball to all parts of the field.”
Crispino has had plenty of success with runners in scoring position this season, especially over the last week. During the final four regular season games, Crispino hit .800 (4-for-5) with runners in scoring position and those RBI came at big times. His first career home run came late in the game against UMASS, turning a one-run deficit into an eventual one-run win. He also tallied the first three RBI for the Stags in the series finale against Quinnipiac, tying the game on two different occasions.
Wallace got the Stags to a deciding game with his complete game performance on Thursday, holding Quinnipiac to two runs (one earned) in his seven innings of work. After allowing an unearned run in the first, Wallace settled down and protected the eventual Fairfield lead, retiring the last nine men he faced for the complete game win.
“He showed real character and good maturity in getting better as the game went on,” Currier said. “We are real happy with his progress from last year and he keeps getting better as he goes. I think he's a real promising starting pitcher for the future.”
Wallace leads the MAAC with five complete games to his credit. His seven wins this season puts him one victory shy of tying the program's single season win total, with the last Stag to accomplish that feat being Dan Krines in 2000.
The Stags will enter the MAAC tournament as the No. 1 seed for the second time in program history, and look for their fourth overall MAAC title. The 17-conference wins ties the 2000 squad for the most in program history. The last time the Stags had the best record in the MAAC was in 1983, finishing 4-1 in MAAC play. The Stags won the MAAC South Division in 1991 and 1993
