FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Giacomo Brancato launched a grand slam to cap a six-run sixth inning for the Fairfield University Baseball team as the Stags responded with a 7-4 victory over Hartford on Wednesday. The victory was the 27th of the season for Fairfield and the 700th in Head Coach
Bill Currier's career.
Brancato had the biggest blast of the evening as he launched a 0-2 pitch over the left field wall for his first career grand slam. The Stags (27-18) had to mount a two out rally in the frame, scoring all six runs with two outs.
Anthony Boselli got the first big hit as he added to his MAAC leading RBI total to 40 with a run scoring double. Fairfield would load the bases with back-to-back walks and
Tom Ryan would tie the game at 2-2 with a RBI single through the left side.
That set the stage for Brancato's heroics as he launched the long ball over the left field wall.
The Stags would give two runs back in the top of the seventh on six walks in the frame, but
Bobby McNiff and
Nick Grabek would retire the final six hitters of the game to give the Stags the 7-4 win. Grabek earned his conference leading ninth save of the season, moving one save away from tying Scott Larkin for the program's single season mark set in 1992.
Fairfield would add an insurance run in the seventh as
Justin Guerrera would also launch a 0-2 pitch off the scoreboard in left for his fourth homer of the season.
Jake Noviello was solid in his five innings as he tossed five innings surrendering one home run with two outs in the fourth. Noviello would retire 15 of the 18 batters he faced, giving up only three hits and striking out three. He was economical in his work, needing only 63 pitches to get through five frames.
Boselli was the lone Stag to record multiple hits in the contest as he enjoyed a 2-for-4 outing.
Peter Horn earned his third win of the season, giving up an unearned run in the top of the sixth before Fairfield responded with a six-spot in the bottom half.
Fairfield will turn their attention back to conference play when they travel to Niagara for a three-game set starting with a Saturday doubleheader.
