ARLINGTON, Va. – The Fairfield University Baseball team rallied with nine runs in the final three innings to grab an 11-9 comeback victory in the series opener at George Washington.
Charlie Pagliarini continued Fairfield's early power display with a pair of home runs, including the go-ahead solo shot in the top of the ninth.
"I think combined with the relief effort of guys coming in and getting outs or us with the clutch hitting with Pagliarini being the offensive catalyst of the game gave us this win," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "It was just a combined effort of guys not giving up and feeling that we can come back on anybody. It's a good character build for us."
Fairfield's late rally was started as the team put up a six-spot in the top of the seventh, to turn a 9-2 Colonials lead to just 9-8.
Seven of the first eight hitters in the frame reached base safely.
Noah Lucier would plate the first run of the inning as he launched a RBI double to left center field, driving in
Mike Handal, who led off the inning with a single. The Stags would load the bases on a
Paul Catalano single and a
Griffin Watson hit by pitch.
Matt Venuto would come through in the clutch situation as he singled through the right side, bringing home two more runs. Pagliarini would drive him home as he pulled an 0-2 pitch into right field for a RBI double.
Matt Bergevin would complete the scoring in the frame with a sacrifice fly to right.
Fairfield would tie the game in the next frame, manufacturing the tying run.
Nick Sturino started the stanza with an infield single and was brought into scoring position on a Lucier sacrifice bunt. Watson, who has had a hit in all four games this season, made the strategy pay off with a RBI single through the right side.
Bowen Baker would work a perfect frame in the bottom of the eighth with a strikeout, setting the scene for more Stags' heroics.
Fairfield needed just two pitches to find that hero as Pagliarini launched his second home run of the game over the center field wall to break the 9-9 tie. The Stags would add an insurance run as Lucier singled to center, driving in Bergevin for Fairfield's 11th run.
Jack Erbeck would enter the game in the save situation and retired the Colonials in order in the ninth on just seven pitches, in recording his first career save.
The Fairfield bullpen as a whole was impressive as Erbeck, Bowen,
Grant Smeltzer, and
Jake Memoli combined for five innings allowing just one run.
On the offensive side, nine different Stags recorded at least one hit with four student-athletes tallying at least a pair. Pagliarini led the group with three hits on two homers and a double. Lucier and Venuto also drove in two.
During the first four games, the Stags have hit .316 with 35 runs scored and 11 home runs.
The two teams will conclude the series with a Sunday doubleheader starting at 11am.
