ELON, N.C. – Peter Ostensen, Jack Erbeck, Bryson Cafaro, and Nick Grabek combined for five stellar innings helping the Fairfield University Baseball team to a 5-3 win over Elon University, clinching the series victory over the CAA school. The Stags used two doubles in the sixth to notch three runs and then shut the door in relief to pick up their second-straight victory.
 
"We took advantage of some mistakes and hung around to score some runs," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "Our relief pitchers came in and got out when we should have. We used the right relievers and got some new kids in the game which is good to see."

Fairfield faced their first deficit of the young season as they trailed by one heading into the third. Matt Zaffino would make that lead short lived as he crushed a two-run shot over the left field wall to grab a 2-1 advantage. Colin Kelly had led off that frame with a single to set up Zaffino's go-ahead blast.
 
The Phoenix would tie the score in the bottom half of the frame with a sacrifice fly to left, and that score would hold until the sixth. Kelly, and Mike Becchetti doubled to lead off the sixth with Becchetti's two-bagger scoring Kelly.
 
Elon would intentionally walk Mike Caruso to load the bases for Matt Bergevin and the transfer was able to leg out a potential double play and force an errant throw. That error allowed Becchetti and Pagliarini to score and opened some breathing room for the Stags at 5-2.
 
The Fairfield bullpen would keep the Phoenix at bay allowing just one run on two hits in the final five innings of work. Ostensen was the first man out of the pen and was credited with the win not allowing a hit in his 1.2 innings of work. He got three ground ball outs in the fifth but hit two batters in the sixth allowing Elon to threaten. Jack Erbeck was called upon and came up with a big out to end the inning by getting a ground out.
 
The reigning MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year, Bryson Cafaro was next in line for the Stags and recorded a 1-2-3 seventh. The Phoenix were able to score a run in the eighth on a one out single by Charlie Granatal but Cafaro induced a grounder and then a fly out to left to end the threat.
 
Less than 24 hours after working 2.2 innings in relief, Nick Grabek answered the call for the final frame and needed just nine pitches to record his second-straight save. That brings his career number to 16, three shy of tying the program's record.
 
Zaffino led nine different Stags who entered the hit column, including the first collegiate hit from Evan Berta.
 
Jake Noviello tossed 63 pitches in his first start of 2022 and allowed just four hits in four innings while inducing an impressive eight ground ball outs.
 
The two teams will conclude their first-ever series with Colin McVeigh getting the ball with the Stags looking for the sweep. First pitch is Sunday at noon.