EDISON, N.J. – Fresh off a 6-0 week to improve their record to an impeccable 14-0, the Fairfield University Baseball team earned a couple of weekly honors from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as shortstop
Justin Guerrera was named the MAAC Player of the Week and starting pitcher
Jake Noviello took home the MAAC Pitcher of the Week accolades. The duo have helped the Stags to 14-straight wins to begin the season and the number two ranking in the latest national RPI rankings.
Guerrera earned his second conference player of the week award by batting .476 in the six games with two more home runs, eight RBI, and 10 runs scored. Guerrera got a hit in each of the six wins and started the week with a 5-for-7 showing against Quinnipiac. In total, he went 10-for-21 in the week with an even 1.000 slugging percentage and a .560 on-base-percentage.
"Justin has paced our offense by commanding the strike zone," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "He has had the opportunity to have runners on base ahead of him to create some RBI producing chances which has added to our success."
Guerrera leads the MAAC and is in the top-2 nationally in: batting average (.471), home runs per game (0.57), RBI per game (1.64), runs per game (1.43), and slugging percentage (1.059).
Noviello has been the addition to Fairfield's weekend starting rotation, helping the Stags to the best ERA in the country at 2.17.
In his last start, Noviello tossed a complete game shutout, surrendering just four hits and striking out seven in the seven inning victory. Noviello got stronger as the game went on, retiring the final seven batters he faced including striking out the side in the sixth. In the final four innings, just one batter hit a ball into the outfield, a leadoff single in the fourth.
"Jake has done a great job mixing his pitches for strikes keeping himself on the mound late in games by staying ahead in the count," Coach Currier said. "He is a leader on our staff and his work ethic is a great example for our other pitchers to follow."
Noviello is currently 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA, which ranks third in the MAAC and tenth in the nation. He has struck out 20 and walked just two batters in 20 innings. This is Noviello's first weekly award.
The duo has helped the Stags attain the number two spot in the latest RPI rankings as the only team in the country currently unbeaten.
The Stags will look to continue that momentum with a Wednesday doubleheader against Quinnipiac at noon.
