FAIRFIELD, Conn. – With his team facing elimination, junior right-hander Jake Noviello kept the Stags' dreams alive as he fired a career-high 8.2 innings surrendering just a ninth inning run as the Fairfield University Baseball team defeated Monmouth 3-1. With the win, the Stags stay alive in the MAAC Championships and will have a rematch with Canisus in an elimination game on Friday at 9:30 a.m.
 
"You just have to compete," Noviello said. "You have to compete for the team, I love these guys and had to do my part. I did that and the guys behind me picked me up and made plays. It was really easy to pitch today with that defense."
 
"He's the perfect person to give the ball to after a tough loss like yesterday," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "He wanted it, he got it, and he did a great job."
 
With his win, Noviello earns his eighth victory of the season, tying a progam single season record. Also, the win boosted the Stags' win total to 36, setting a new school record for wins in a season.
 
The Stags scored all three of their runs in the very first inning as the first three hitters reached base, loading the bases with nobody out. Mike Becchetti opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly and Charlie Pagliarini followed with a bouncing ball over the third baseman's head and scoring two runs.
 
The defense for the Stags did all they could to help Noviello and keep the lead. The Stags turned three double plays in the first four innings, with their biggest one coming in the fourth. Monmouth would load the bases themselves with nobody out but the Stags walked the tightrope out of the jam. Noviello struck out the batter for the first out and then induced a grounder to the third baseman Pagliarini who stepped on the third base bag and fired over to first to end the threat. Pagliarini would start all three double plays in the game and tally six assists.
 
Noviello would retire the next eight batters and would not allow another hit until a pinch hit single in the eighth, and then end that frame with a strikeout.
 
Monmouth would score their only run in the ninth with a two out single, chasing Noviello after 8.2 brilliant innings. John Signore would enter and throw three pitches to strikeout the pinch hitter to end the game.
 
The winner of Friday's 9:30 a.m. matchup will move on to challenge Rider in the MAAC Championship Series. Fairfield would need to defeat the Broncs tomorrow and again on Saturday, while the Broncs need just one more win to lock up the conference title.