DELAND, Fla. – Matt Venuto slammed his first career home run, a grand slam in the bottom of the first that highlighted a seven run inning for the Fairfield University Baseball team, leading to an 11-2 win over Harvard to open up the Stetson Invitational. Every Stag starter picked up at least one hit in the game with Venuto and Dan Ryan leading the team with three apiece.
 
Dylan Reynolds and Ryan got the Stags on the board quickly in the first inning as both tallied RBI singles in the bottom half of the first. Giacomo Brancato drove in a run with a bases loaded walk, setting the stage for the biggest moment in Venuto's young career. With two outs, Venuto crushed a grand slam to right field that capped a seven run first inning for the Stags.
 
The Stags added two more runs in the third on RBI singles from Ian Halpin and Mike Becchetti. They would also plate two more in the fourth as Ryan's two run double brought home Reynold's and Justin Guerrera to put Fairfield up 11-0.
 
That was more than enough for Fairfield starter John Signore as he scattered four hits in five innings of shutout ball. Signore did not walk a batter and did not allow more than one base runner in any of his five innings. He also struck out six during his outing. Jason Hebner and Billy Fitzgerald were also flawless in their relief appearances. Hebner allowed just a hit by pitch as the only base runner during his two frames, while Fitzgerald struck out two of the three batters he faced. During his first three collegiate innings, Fitzgerald has struck out seven batters.
 
Every Stag starter recorded a hit with Reynolds and Becchetti joining Venuto and Ryan with multiple hits. Reynolds, Brancato, and Charlie Pagliarini led the team by scoring two runs.
 
Fairfield will look to keep the momentum going from their first win of the season when they take on the host school Stetson on Saturday night at 6:30pm.