FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Jake Noviello tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout while recording a career-high 10 strikeouts and the Fairfield University Baseball team hit four home runs in a dominating 11-0 victory over Siena in the home opener at Alumni Diamond. With the win, the Stags improve their overall record to 10-9 while picking up their first MAAC win of the year for a 1-0 conference mark.
 
"It all starts with Jake," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "He pitched very efficient and mixed three speeds and did a real good job of keeping us in the game."
 
Noviello was the story of the game as he hurled his best game of the season with a complete game two-hit shutout while striking out 10 batters for the first time in his career. He allowed just two singles and one walk while completing the game in exactly 100 pitches.
 
Siena picked up their only hits with singles in the third and fourth innings. Noviello would retire the final 11 batters to complete his masterpiece.
 
At the plate, the Stags continued their hot-hitting by belting four home runs and scoring 11 times. Griffin Watson, Mike Becchetti, Ryan Strollo, and AJ Donofrio all went deep for the Stags. The squad has now belted 32 homers, which is already the seventh most hit in any season for the program with at least 34 games left.
 
"I thought the first time through the order their pitcher did a good job at mixing speeds and us chasing out of the zone a little bit," Coach Currier said. "The second time through we got a little better and the third time around we did even better. We made nice adjustments as hitters which I was happy to see."
 
The Stags got on the board in the very first inning as Matt Bergevin lined a RBI double to right center, scoring Becchetti for the game's first run.
 
Mike Handal would come through with a clutch two-run single in the fourth to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
Fairfield had their biggest inning in the fifth as they plated four runs. Watson, who had the final home run at home in 2022, also had the first home run at home this season with a solo shot to lead off the frame. The Stags would load the bases for Handal, who after fouling off four-straight pitches, took the 3-2 pitch to deep left field, clearing the bases and putting the score at 7-0.
 
Strollo would begin the sixth with a solo shot to center and Becchetti followed with a two-run moon shot to left.
 
Donofrio capped the offense with an exclamation mark as he drove his first career homer over the right field wall, pinch hitting in the seventh.
 
Watson, Bergevin, Noah Lucier, Handal, and Matt Bucciero all picked up a pair of hits in the game. Handal led the team with five RBI as he went 2-for-3 in the contest. Becchetti also extended his hitting streak to 11-straight after his homer in the sixth.
 
With the win, Noviello improves his career record to 12-0 against MAAC opponents and a 9-0 mark at home.
 
The two teams will complete their three-game set with a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 11am.