FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Shortstop
Colin Kelly blasted a walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the 10th to lead the Fairfield University Baseball team to a 4-3 win over Central Connecticut State at Alumni Diamond. Kelly's homer was the second in as many days for the graduate transfer as the Stags won their third-straight contest.
"We're a gritty team and after Central Connecticut came back we've been in that spot many times," Kelly said. "I just thought it was meant to be today. I was just trying to get on base but any way on works for us. I happened to get a good pitch middle in and I just ended up driving it over the fence."
Kelly's blast capped an exciting final three frames for the two teams. The Blue Devils would hit a solo homer in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the game at 3-3.
Jason Hebner would pitch the top of the tenth and got a big strikeout to strand the bases loaded to lead into Kelly's leadoff shot.
The Stags would score single runs in the first, fourth, and sixth innings to build a 3-1 lead heading into the seventh.
Mike Becchetti started the scoring with a double to left that would score
Matt Bergevin who had reached on an error.
Fairfield picked up their next two runs by playing small ball with a
Dean Ferrara RBI fielder's choice in the fourth and a
Griffin Watson sacrifice fly in the sixth. Four of Fairfield's six relievers tallied shutout frames in their work with
Bowen Baker going the longest as he hurled the first three hitless innings.
Peter Ostensen surrendered just one hit in his two innings of work.
Colin McVeigh added a scoreless seventh allowing just one hit while striking out three. Hebner would cap the relief outings with a scoreless 10th inning to pick up the victory while also striking out three.
The Fairfield pitching combined to strikeout 10 Blue Devils while surrendering just three walks.
Seven different Stags picked up a hit while six student-athletes drew at least one walk.
Fairfield is back in action at Alumni Diamond this weekend for a three-game set against Niagara with first pitch at Alumni Diamond starting on Friday at 2pm.
