BRONX, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team started their three-game series at Fordham with a 9-4 victory over the Rams on Friday. Jake Noviello picked up the win with seven strong innings, including five-straight scoreless frames. Mike Handal was one of four Stags with multiple hits and also provided a solo homer and two RBI.
 
Handal provided the early spark plug for the Stags as he launched his first homer of the season, a game-tying solo shot in the second.
 
Fordham would regain the lead in their half of the inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by Jack Vallario.
 
Noviello would settle down after the homer and toss five-straight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits the rest of the way. The right-hander would also strike out a season-high six batters in seven innings of work.
 
That success helped the Stags find their momentum offensively as they recorded the last eight runs of the game. Mike Becchetti lined a single into center field, tying the game in the fourth. Charlie Pagliarini would give the Stags the lead as he ripped a RBI single to right.
 
Nick Sturino would add a run with his second RBI of the afternoon, a sacrifice fly that scored Noah Lucier.
 
The Stags capped their scoring with three runs in the sixth. Matt Bergevin started the scoring with a single to center. Lucier would bring home a run on a fielder's choice before Handal completed the scoring with a RBI single to center.
 
Peter Ostensen would come in relief and built upon his strong outing against Stetson. Ostensen retired all six hitters he faced with three strikeouts. He has now tallied seven punch outs in 3.2 innings.
 
Handal, Becchetti, Lucier, and Matt Bucciero led the Stags with a pair of hits apiece. Lucier paced the team with three runs scored.
 
The two teams will complete the series with a doubleheader starting on Saturday at noon.