FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Baseball team extended their best start in program history by improving their record to an unblemished 8-0 by sweeping Saturday's doubleheader over Iona, 7-0 and 10-2.
John Signore and
Colin McVeigh picked up the victories while
Justin Guerrera led the offense with five hits including two more home runs.
"We're certainly happy with the start of the season," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "It's still early in the year and we can get better in a lot of areas. We're pitching well and limiting the amount of runs we allow. We're going to get a lot of games in and we hope to keep getting better."
Game One: Fairfield 7, Iona 0
Signore and
Eli Oliphant combined for a four-hit shutout in the seven inning opener with Signore going the first six as the right hander picked up his second-straight victory and the 19th of his career. Signore struck out two batters, bringing his career total to 241, moving him to second place on the program's career strikeout list.
After running into trouble with the bases loaded in the first inning, Signore would get Iona's outfielder to line out to second to end the jam and then settle in. He would allow just two hits over his next five innings and did not allow a runner to reach second base until the sixth inning.
Signore would get a couple of runs in support as the Stags opened the scoring in the first and then added a run in the fourth.
Sean Cullen drove in his fifth run as a Stag as his sacrifice fly plated
Dan Ryan and gave the Stags the opening 1-0 advantage.
Justin Guerrera would continue his power surge in the fourth as he launched the first pitch of the frame over the left field wall to put the Fairfield lead at 2-0.
The Stags would blow the doors open in the top of the seventh as they scored five runs on just two hits.
Griffin Watson had one of those base knocks as his one out double put runners on second and third and
Mike Handal was able to drive in one of those runs with a sacrifice fly. Watson would later score on an error and Ryan would cross the plate on back-to-back wild pitches.
Mike Caruso had the big hit of the frame with a two run pinch hit single.
Oliphant would finish the game with a hitless seventh as he struck out two.
Game Two: Fairfield 10, Iona 2
For the first time in the four-game series, the Stags faced a deficit as they trailed 2-1 entering the top of the fifth inning. Handal would give the Stags a momentum shifting, 13-pitch at-bat which resulted in a two run triple over the head of the left fielder and gave the Stags a 3-2 lead.
The Stags would not look back as they scored a run in the seventh and eighth inning before blowing the game open with a five spot in the ninth.
Charlie Pagliarini plated a run with a run scoring single in the eighth after scoring a run on an error in the seventh. Guerrera highlighted the five run ninth inning with his sixth home run of the year, a three run moon shot over the left field wall.
Ryan Strollo added his first collegiate RBI and
Matt Venuto capped the scoring by forcing in a run with a hit by pitch.
The relievers for the Stags kept the lead at bay as
Colin McVeigh and
Jason Hebner combined for four perfect innings with McVeigh picking up his first collegiate win.
The Gaels would actually be held hitless over the final six innings with their only baserunner being a walk in the ninth as Stags pitching shut down 19 of the final 20 batters they faced.
Guerrera led the team with five hits and five RBI in the double header.
The Stags have now won nine-straight games dating back to last season and is now one win away from tying the program's longest winning streak which was set all the way back in 1972. Fairfield will try for that record when they host the Quinnipiac Bobcats for a midweek doubleheader starting on Wednesday at noon.
