FAIRFIELD, Conn. – All good things must come to an end. Even though the Stags' season opening winning streak was more than good, it was amazing, remarkable, and historic, it too had to come to an end. The Fairfield University Baseball team dropped their first game of the season by a 6-1 score against Siena, snapping a 27-game season opening winning streak before rebounding to take the finale by a 4-0 score. The loss was Fairfield's first in 418 days, dating back to March 10, 2020 against Bethune-Cookman.
"I told them, 'you know it wouldn't last forever,'" Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "We've been fortunate in some games, we've earned a lot of wins, and I said that was tremendous. We just got to put it behind us and get back to work. That's really the essence of it, just roll your neck, turn the corner, put it behind you and get ready to go the next game."
Game One: Siena 6, Fairfield 1
Sean Cullen got the Stags on the board in the very first inning with a RBI single that plated
Dan Ryan to give Fairfield the early 1-0 lead.
That would be Fairfield's only life in the ballgame as Siena's John Lumpinski allowed just four more baserunners over the next five innings. The Stags had a chance in the fourth when
Justin Guerrera hustled from first to third on a groundout, but the Stags could not get the big two out hit.
John Signore matched Lumpinski's impressive start over the first four full frames, not allowing a hit until the fifth. The Saints would open the fifth on back-to-back extra base hits, with both barely hugging the line on each side of the diamond. Evan St. Clare started with a triple and was sent home by Brett Young's double that hit the third base bag. With the infield drawn in, Bryce Mordecki hit a bouncing ball that hit off the third baseman's glove down the line, scoring Young and giving Siena a 2-1 lead.
Siena would add a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to get breathing room at a 6-1 advantage heading into the seventh.
The Stags could not find the magic touch as they did not get a runner into scoring position for the final three innings, aided by strong Siena defense. Shortstop Devan Kruzinski applied a sliding tag off a throw from the right fielder to throw out Guerrera, trying to stretch out a single into a double in the sixth.
Fairfield would go down in order in the seventh, officially snapping a 28-game winning streak dating back to last season.
The Stags managed just five hits in the opener, with Guerrera the only Stag with multiple hits with a 2-for-3 day.
Game Two: Fairfield 4, Siena 0
Less than 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game, the Stags had little time mull over the loss before heading back to the field.
Each team traded zeroes until the bottom of the fifth.
Charlie Pagliarini had the first well struck ball of the game as he drilled a double into the right center field gap. After retiring the next two batters,
Griffin Watson had a big hit with a two out RBI single to get the Stags on the board.
The Stags got more breathing room in the sixth. With runners at the corner,
Mike Becchetti singled up the middle to plate Fairfield's second run of the game. As he has done all season long,
Mike Caruso found the big hit for the Stags with a two run double, boosting the score to 4-0 the eventual final score of the game.
Besides the win, Stags fans also got to cheer for the return of Trey McLaughlin, who started his first game since the season opener. McLaughlin threw the first two innings and was impressive with three strikeouts and allowing just a bunt single.
Fairfield's biggest surprise of the season,
Bryson Cafaro continued to try to cement his spot in the weekend rotation as he followed with 5.1 scoreless innings, eventually picking up the victory. Cafaro scattered three hits and three walks but got out of trouble every time. With two runners in scoring position in the fourth and just one out, Cafaro struck out Young looking and got the next hitter to fly out.
Cafaro would lower his ERA to a team best 0.66, as he has allowed just two earned runs in 27.1 innings.
Eli Olphant threw the final 1.2 innings, with his only baserunner reaching on an error.
With the split, the Stags boost their record to 28-1, 12 games ahead of second place Niagara. The Purple Eagles are Fairfield's next scheduled opponent as the Stags travel to Niagara Falls next weekend starting with a Saturday doubleheader.
