FAIRFIELD, Conn. – St. John's scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the 11th inning after the Fairfield catcher was called for an error, leading to a 5-4 decision over the Fairfield University Baseball team on Tuesday afternoon. The Stags had tied the game in the ninth inning on three walks and a hit by pitch to force the first extra inning game of the season.
With the Stags trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Fairfield fought back to tie the game.
Nick Sturino led off the frame with a walk and would steal second putting the game-tying run in scoring position with two outs.
Mike Handal would walk and
Mike Becchetti was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Charlie Pagliarini would force in the tying run with a four-pitch walk.
Grant Smeltzer started the 11th by striking out the batter, however he was able to reach second after a throwing error. With a runner at third, the ball went into the dirt and the catcher touched the ball with his mask and was called for an error allowing the go-ahead run to score.
The Stags were the first team to strike as they put up three runs in the third. Fairfield would load the bases and get the first run of the game on a Becchetti walk. Pagliarini had the big hit of the frame with a two-run two-strike double to center to put the score at 3-0.
The Fairfield bullpen was impressive in the game allowing nine hits and just one earned run through the 11-inning staff day. St. John's would scratch across two runs in the fifth on two RBI singles. The Red Storm would tie the game in the sixth on a throwing error and would take the lead in the eighth on a Luke Orbon RBI single.
Three Fairfield pitchers did not allow a run in their innings of work.
Kevin Kell got the start and went the first three innings, escaping a bases loaded no out jam in the first.
Ryan Smith tossed a perfect seventh and
Bowen Baker allowed just one hit and struck out two in his two innings of work.
Fairfield would tally five hits on the day from five different players. Becchetti recorded a single to extend his hitting streak to 14-straight contests.
Matt Bergevin ripped a double down the left field line to bring his hitting streak to 11-straight.
Pagliarini led both teams with three RBI to bring his season total to 33, already a career-high.
Fairfield will return to MAAC play when they travel to face the newest member of the MAAC, Mount St. Mary's for the first time in school history. The three-game series begins on Friday at 3pm.
