FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Baseball team used nine different pitchers which resulted in five-straight scoreless innings as the Stags defeated the Sacred Heart Pioneers 3-2 in a beautiful Tuesday afternoon on Alumni Diamond. Seven of Fairfield's nine pitchers did not allow a run with
Nick Grabek picking up the victory with a scoreless third inning.
"The story of the game was the bullpen," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "The relievers did a nice job coming in. We used a reliever an inning after the second and they did a good job. That was really the line of the game."
The success of Fairfield's pitching helped the Stags win a game where they tallied just two hits.
Matt Zaffino had the biggest hit for the Stags with a game-tying solo homer to centerfield in the second. The longball was the eighth of the year for Zaffino who also drove in his 49th run of the year, tying for second on the program's single season list.
Colin Kelly tallied the only other Fairfield hit with an opposite field single in the fourth.
Fairfield took the lead in the third as their first two hitters reached base with
Mike Caruso getting hit by a pitch and
Paul Catalano drawing a walk. After the Pioneers retired the next two hitters, both runners would move up a base with a pitch in the dirt. The Sacred Heart catcher would try and recover and fire a throw to third, but the throw went high and all the way to the left field tarp, allowing Caruso and Catalano to score.
Despite getting only two hits, Fairfield did draw seven walks.
The story of the game, however, was the Fairfield bullpen with Grabek,
Bo Buckley,
Grant Smeltzer,
Bowen Baker, and
Emmett Tolis all firing a scoreless inning. Fairfield threw three-straight hitless frames and did not allow a run since the fourth inning.
Tolis would record his first career save with a scoreless ninth, helped out by his defense with Kelly starting a 6-6-3 double play with
Charlie Pagliarini making a great stretch at first.
Fairfield will be back in action for their final conference series of the regular season when they host Siena for a three-game set. The series will begin with a Thursday game at 3pm and conclude with Senior Day on Saturday at 1pm.
