LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader against the Siena Saints, with a 6-4 in 12 innings and a 3-0 shutout setback in the finale. The Stags picked up the victory in the 12-inning marathon with a
Mike Caruso two-run shot. In the nightcap, the Stags couldn't figure out Siena's starter Brendan White managing just four hits and striking out eight times in a 3-0 shutout.
Game One: Fairfield 6, Siena 4 (12 innings)
Mike Caruso was the latest Stag to play the role of hero as his two-run homer in the top of the 12th inning was the difference in a 6-4 victory.
Caruso's longball was one of several key moments in the game for the Stags, on both sides of the ball. The Stags took a one run lead in the 11th after
Anthony Boselli singled through the left side to score
Justin Guerrera and give the Stags a 4-3 lead.
The Saints were able to tie the game in the bottom half when Evan St. Claire sent a base hit into right field, scoring the tying run but the Stags made a key play on the defensive end.
Mike Handal hit the cutoff man in Boselli, who rifled the ball to Caruso to get the potential winning run at the plate and keep the game alive.
The Stags had a chance to grab the lead before extra innings as they had runners on first and second with two outs, but on his 136th pitch of the night, Siena's Tommy Miller got the strike out to send a tie game to the bottom of the ninth.
Eli Oliphant would force extras as he entered the game as struck out the side, catching his final batter looking. In another impressive start out of the pen, Oliphant would earn his third win of the year after tossing four innings allowing just one run on four hits while striking out five.
Dylan Reynolds picked up the first two RBI for the Stags, starting with a sacrifice in the fourth which scored
Dan Ryan. Reynolds would pick up another sacrifice RBI in the sixth.
Six different Stags picked up multiple hits in the opener with
Tom Ryan,
Dan Ryan, Reynolds, and
Tim Zeng picking up a pair. Caruso and Boselli led the Stags with three.
Austin Pope went seven innings in his start, allowing three runs and striking out four.
Game Two: Siena 3, Fairfield 0
The Stags could not figure out Siena's Brendan White as they were shutout 3-0, the first time this season the Stags did not score a run in a game.
Fairfield managed just four hits and struck out eight times. The Stags had runners on in every inning after the first but could not mount a rally.
Brendan Conley started the scoring for the Saints with a solo homer in the first.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday at noon.
