GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Fairfield University Baseball team was swept in their 2020 season opening doubleheader at UNC Greensboro with final scores of 1-0 and 6-2. The Stags were no-hit in the series opener with the Spartans tallying a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. Fairfield hung around in the finale courtesy of a two-run home run by Preseason All-MAAC selection
Justin Guerrera.
Game One: Spartans 1, Stags 0
The Stags managed only one base runner in their season opening game with a
Ian Halpin walk to lead off the eighth inning. Fairfield's pinch runner would be erased with a caught stealing during the next at-bat with UNC Greensboro's two pitchers Jake Lewis and Austin Parsley combining to face the minimum in the no-hitter. Lewis hurled the first seven innings and was relieved after the Halpin walk.
Even though the bats struggled, Fairfield stayed within striking distance with their pitching of
Trey McLoughlin and
Nick Grabek. McLoughlin impressed in his season debut striking out five in 5.1 shutout innings. His biggest challenge came in the third as he worked around a two-on two-out jam with a strikeout.
Grabek came in relief in the sixth and worked around his own two on two out jam by getting the next hitter to ground out. He would retired the side in order in the seventh and get a line drive double play to end the eighth.
The Spartans would win the game in dramatic fashion in the ninth with two infield singles before Pres Caenaugh lined a single through the right side for the walk-off no-hitter.
Game Two: Spartans 6, Stags 2
Justin Guerrera broke the Stags out of their offensive drought with a two-run homer in the sixth to bring the Fairfield deficit to 3-2.
The Spartans, however, would score one run in the bottom of the frame and two more insurance runs in the eighth for the victory.
Josh Arnold and
Tristan Amone kept the Stags in the game combining for 3.1 scoreless innings in relief. Amone retired all five batters he faced, striking out two.
Guerrera and
Mike Handal combined for half of the Stags' eight hits with both tallying multi-hit games.
Dan Ryan,
Matt Venuto,
Mike Handal, and
Eric Cerno also tallied base knocks in the setback.
The two teams will complete their three-game series with a Sunday afternoon contest at 1pm.