FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Even a two week layoff, a new scheduled opponent, and a brisk 35 degree day couldn't cool off the Fairfield University Baseball team as the Stags picked up a pair of 4-2 victories to sweep a doubleheader from the Gaels on Friday afternoon. With the wins, the Stags improve to 6-0 on the season, extending the best start in the 70-year varsity history of the program.
"I told the team that the cold is the equalizer," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "It makes both teams come really wanting to play, keep their focus, and keep themselves warm enough that they could still get good swings and good fielding while throwing strikes. I think it's a pitcher's advantage especially with the wind coming straight in on a 30 degree day. We kept battling when the game was close and came out on top."
Game One: Fairfield 4, Iona 2
"Battling" might be the key word for the Stags in the doubleheader, which was exemplified by the two starting pitchers.
Michael Sansone was the first Stag to take the ball and he battled when he needed to the most, tossing all seven frames for a complete game victory.
Sansone allowed just three hits and two runs (one earned) in his seven innings of work while striking out six. The junior surrendered a lone run in the fifth and sixth to tie the game, but was helped by two Fairfield runs in the top of the seventh, which would seal the victory.
The Stags got the first lead of the game when
Mike Caruso lined his first home run of the year, a solo shot in the fifth. That long ball was Fairfield's tenth through the first five games of the season. The Stags would add a run later in the frame on a
Justin Guerrera RBI single.
After Iona tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a RBI groundout in the sixth, the Stags (who were the road team for the contests) grabbed the lead right back in the top half of the seventh.
Mike Handal broke the tie with a RBI single to center, the third hit of the contest for the outfielder. Handal would later add the insurance run by scoring on a throwing error.
Sansone would keep that lead himself with a perfect 1-2-3 inning to clinch the opening win. Handal was the lone Stag to record a multi-hit game in the series opener with three base knocks and two runs scored.
Game Two: Fairfield 4, Iona 2
The Stags rode that momentum into the opening frame of the nightcap, scoring two runs in the opening inning.
Mike Becchetti had the big hit with a two-run double into the right center field gap scoring
Sean Cullen and
Dan Ryan.
The Gaels would get those runs back in the second, but that would be all starter
Jake Noviello would allow for the Gaels. The junior right hander would give up just one hit over the next five innings, with that only base knock being a single to right in the seventh.
In total, Noviello went a career-high seven innings while giving up five hits and two runs while striking out six. The junior would pick up his second win of the season.
Ryan would be the Stag with the big clutch hit in the second game as his RBI single scored Caruso to put the Stags up 3-2 in the fifth. The Stags would add an important insurance run on a Handal RBI single in the ninth.
After Noviello's brilliance, the Stags bullpen entered and slammed the door for the 4-2 win.
Jason Hebner entered in the eighth and needed just six pitches for a quick 1-2-3 inning while striking out a batter.
Nick Grabek allowed a walk in the ninth but stranded the tying run in scoring position getting the final hitter to fly out to left. It was the 12th career save for Grabek, tying Mark Bordanaro for second on the program's all-time careers list.
Caruso led the Stags with three hits and two runs scored in the finale, upping his season average to an even .600. Handal and Ryan also picked up multi-hits in the nightcap. Handal led the team with five hits in the doubleheader.
The Stags will try to keep their momentum going as they conclude the series with the Gaels with a other doubleheader on Saturday at noon.
