WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Fairfield University Baseball team held the lead in both ends of a doubleheader but could not seal the victory as the Stags were swept in Friday's doubleheader at Monmouth by the scores of 4-2 and 6-5 in eight innings.
Game One: Monmouth 4, Fairfield 2
The Stags held a 2-1 lead after a
Dylan Reynolds pinch hit single with two outs in the sixth inning, but Monmouth would score the next three runs and retire the final 10 Fairfield batters after Reynolds' base hit.
Austin Pope continued his impressive performance in conference games, hurling the first six innings for the Stags. Pope allowed a solo homer in the fourth and sixth innings, but virtually held Monmouth in check with seven strikeouts through the first five innings. Pope ran into trouble as he neared 100 pitches in the seventh and would be charged with four total runs in his six innings.
The Stags scored their first run of the game by stringing together three hits early in the fifth, capped off by a
Jack Gethings RBI single.
Game Two: Monmouth 6, Fairfield 5 (8)
Fairfield scored three runs in the top of the first as Monmouth's starter did not record an out. The first four Fairfield hitters reached base with
Tim Zeng, Gethings, and
Kevin Radziewicz all drawing walks and
Drew Arciuolo picking up a single. Monmouth would go into their bullpen after the walk to Radziewicz drove in a run.
The Stags would add two more runs in the frame on a
Drew Blake RBI fielder's choice and a
Mitch Williams RBI single, one of a team-high three hits for Williams.
Monmouth would tie the game with three runs in the third capped off by a Zach Schild two-run two-out double.
The Stags showed a lot of character in taking the lead right back by producing a run in the fourth. Williams led off the frame with a single and would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Tyler Gambardella.
Tom Ryan would bring him to third with a single, allowing
Tim Zeng to drive in the run on a sacrifice fly.
Fairfield's run in the fifth inning did not need as much fundamental play as Radziewicz launched a ball over the left field wall to put the score at 5-3.
Monmouth, however, would tie the score with another two-out, two run double and would end up needing extra innings for the seven inning contest.
The Stags had their best scoring chance in the seventh with
Drew Arciuolo and
Jack Gethings singling to put runners on first and third with nobody out. However, the Stags could not capitalize, leading to the extra frame.
In the eighth, John LaRocca would end the game on a walk-off sacrifice fly.
The Stags will conclude their regular season with a single game on Saturday at noon against Monmouth.
