POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team blasted three home runs highlighted by
Charlie Pagliarini's program record tying 35th career long ball, powering the Stags over the Marist Red Foxes 9-4 in the series opener on Friday afternoon.
Paul Catalano and
Mike Becchetti also went deep for the Stags while
Jake Noviello tossed eight strong innings for the victory.
With the win, the Stags improve their overall record to 29-15 and their MAAC-leading mark to 12-4.
"Novi threw one of his best starts of the year as he was efficient to a 87 pitch count threw eight innings," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "He had great command and competed all game. Pags had a big three-run home which put distance between us in middle innings.
Paul Catalano had a big day with three hits including a home run off the top of the scoreboard in right center."
The Stags played small ball to get their first four runs of the game starting with a
Matt Bucciero RBI single in the second. Bucciero was the third-straight Stag to reach base in the frame as he was in front of a
Mike Handal walk and a Becchetti single.
Fairfield would drive in a two-out run in the fourth as
Ethan Hibbard singled through the left side to plate Becchetti.
The Stags would add another run in the fifth to regain the lead at 3-2, a lead they would not relinquish. After a
Noah Lucier sacrifice fly in the sixth, the Stags would show their power accounting for the final five runs of the game.
Pagliarini lined his MAAC-leading 19th homer of the season, a three-run shot off the top of the scoreboard in right center. The long ball was also the 35th of his career, tying Tom Lopusznick's program record, set 23 years ago. He also moves to eighth on the MAAC career home run list.
Catalano led off the eighth inning with power as he crushed his first homer of the season to put the score at 8-2.
Becchetti would cap the scoring and his impressive day with a solo shot in the ninth. Becchetti would tie Catalano with a team-high three hits and two runs scored.
On the mound, Noviello hurled eighth strong innings, keeping the Stags in the contest every step of the way. He kept the Red Foxes off the board for the final four innings and was very efficient with just 80 pitches needed.
The two teams will play the middle game of the series on Saturday at 1pm.
