PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Fairfield University Baseball team dropped the opening game in their three game series to North Dakota State by an 8-2 final score. Ryan Strollo and Mike Becchetti led the Stags with two hits apiece.
 
The Stags got on the board first in the second inning when Becchetti led off the second inning with a single. He would steal second base and advance to third on a Strollo single. Matt Venuto would bring the runner home by grounding into a double play.
 
North Dakota State was able to tie the game in the third with a RBI double and then take the lead on two home runs in the sixth that put the score at 4-1.
 
Fairfield would get one of those runs back in the in the seventh on a Matt Zaffino sacrifice fly.
 
Michael Sansone had a strong beginning to his outing, allowing just the one run through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. He totaled six strikeouts including striking out the side in order in the second.
 
He did not allow a hit until the third inning on the RBI double.
 
Fairfield tallied seven hits in the contest with Becchetti and Strollo each picking up a pair.
 
The two teams will be back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 11am.