WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Fairfield University Baseball Head Coach
Bill Currier picked up career wins number 800 and 801 as the Stags won both games of Saturday's doubleheader, completing a three-game series sweep against Hartford. The Stags picked up a 5-2 victory in the opener and won a rain-shortened contest 8-2 in the nightcap. Currier was not the only Stag to reach a milestone in the series as senior infielder
Charlie Pagliarini not only tied the program's single-season record with his 13th homer but also reached 100 career RBI in the finale.
"I'm happy for all the assistant coaches and players that I had the opportunity to share many big games with along the journey coaching two great schools in Vermont and the Fairfield," Coach Currier said. "Thanks for all the well wishes from friends and alum of both schools who were a big part of the success."
Currier now ranks 25th among active Division I coaches with his 801 victories and is the 131st coach all-time to reach the 800-win milestone. In his 34th year as a head coach and his 12th with the Stags, he has also reached 309 with Fairfield.
Game One: Fairfield 5, Hartford 2
Colin McVeigh allowed just two hits in six shutout innings while striking out six and picking up his team-best fifth win of the year. After allowing a single in the first, he would be helped out by his defense as left fielder
Ryan Strollo threw out a runner at the plate, attempting to tag on a fly ball. That would be the last hit McVeigh would allow until his final frame.
The game would remain scoreless until the fifth when
Griffin Watson led off the inning with a double. He would advance to third on a sac bunt by Strollo and score on a RBI single from
Noah Lucier.
Fairfield would have their biggest frame in the sixth as they got runners on second and third with one out.
Matt Bucciero would bring in a run with a RBI single, the sixth-straight game he has driven in a run. After
Matt Bergevin scored on a passed ball,
Ethan Hibbard capped the scoring with a RBI double to left.
The Stags would get an insurance run in the ninth on a Pagliarini single to right.
Jack Erbeck came in relief and picked up the save by tossing three innings.
Game Two: Fairfield 8, Hartford 2 (5)
In a rain-shortened contest, the Stags picked up six runs in the first two innings, capped by a three-run homer by Pagliarini, his 13th of the season. Pagliarini ties the program's single-season record set by Justin Guerrera in 2021 and tied by himself last season.
Strollo also provided some power for the Stags with a solo homer to start the scoring in the second.
Bucciero extended his RBI streak to seven-straight games with a bases loaded walk in the first and a RBI single in the second.
Lucier would add a run with a RBI single in the fifth and Pagliarini capped the scoring with a RBI triple, marking his 100th career RBI.
Peter Ostensen was credited with the complete game by tossing all five innings, allowing two home runs and striking out six to improve his record to 4-3.
Pagliarini was the lone Stag to record multiple hits in both ends of the doubleheader as he combined to go 4-for-7 with five RBI. Lucier had three hits and scored three runs in the nightcap.
The Stags will be on the road for their lone midweek game next week, traveling to Hofstra on Wednesday at 2pm.
