FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Michael Sansone and Jake Noviello kept the winning train moving as both starters tossed gems and the Fairfield University Baseball swept a pivotal doubleheader from the Monmouth Hawks with final scores of 3-2 and 8-2 to improve their record to a perfect 18-0.
 
"We're doing the same equation," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "We're getting good starting pitching and it's keeping us tight in games. Even when see good pitching like we did in both games today, we're staying after it, keep grinding, and looking for a mistake made by the other team. We're capitalizing and getting ahead and it's opening the game up."
 
 
Game One: Fairfield 3, Monmouth 2
 
After recording his first career save on Wednesday, Michael Sansone took the ball in the opening game of the pivotal series and was spectacular. The left-hander would hurl a complete game in the seven inning victory allowing just two runs on five hits and a career-high 10 strikeouts. Both of those runs came in the final inning as Sansone surrendered just two hits through the first six frames.
 
The Stags got on the board with three unearned runs in the fourth. Justin Guerrera reached base on the error in the inning as he skied a ball into the outfield that was misplayed by the Monmouth centerfielder, allowing Guerrera to reach second. Sean Cullen would drive him home with a line drive up the middle, the first runs of the game for either side.
 
With runners at the corners, Mike Caruso laid down a bunt, which the catcher fielded and gunned out the runner at second. However, Cullen sprinted down the line and snuck under the tag from the catcher on the return throw to open up a 2-0 lead. Ryan Strollo would add to the lead with a run scoring single.
 
Sansone would keep adding zeroes, allowing just a first inning double and an infield single in the sixth until the final frame. Sansone would also show the power in his arm, striking out at least one hitter in the final six innings, including getting the final batter of the game looking as he picked up his fourth win of the season. Sansone struck out a career-high 10 batters without a walk. The only two runners that scored for Monmouth came home on a two-out, two run pinch hit single in the seventh.
 
 
Game Two: Fairfield 8, Monmouth 2
 
Jake Noviello matched the success of his teammate as he went a personal best eight innings allowing just two hits and two earned runs.
 
Both of those runs came on one swing of the bat as Monmouth's best power hitter Alex Barker unleashed a two-run shot in the second to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
 
Noviello would settle in after the long ball and dominate the rest of the way. The right hander retired the next 14 batters he faced and 19 of his final 21. The only runners to reach base during that stretch was a single in the sixth and a walk in the eighth.
 
Once again the Stags would fight back and once again they were helped by a couple of errors by the defense. Mike Handal laid down a sacrifice bunt that the catcher fielded and errantly tossed into left field. That would lead to another fielding error in the outfield, allowing Griffin Watson to score all the way from first base. Dan Ryan tied the game as he beat out a bouncing ball to second base.
 
The Stags would score in each of the next four innings starting with a RBI groundout by Watson in the fourth.
 
Charlie Pagliarini lifted a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the fifth and Caruso brought in another run with a single.
 
Fairfield would add another tally with a Guerrera sacrifice fly in the sixth and cap their scoring with a run scored on a passed ball in the seventh.
 
Noviello would cruise through his eight innings of work with the run support, making way for Jason Hebner who worked a perfect ninth.
 
Every starter tallied at least one hit in the nightcap with Dan Ryan and Ryan Strollo leading the squad with three base knocks in the doubleheader.
 
The Stags lowered their national leading ERA to 2.06 and the country's best WHIP to 0.88.
 
Noviello earned his fourth win of the season and holds an ERA of 1.29.
 
The top two teams in the conference will finish their four-game series with a Sunday doubleheader starting at noon.