POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team was not able to finish the series sweep as the Marist Red Foxes rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 15-14 decision over the Stags on Sunday.
Mike Handal led the Stags with three hits and was one of three student-athletes to drive in three in the setback.
The Stags would score the first five runs of the game, and showed power by building that lead with three home runs in a four-player span.
Matt Bucciero and
Ethan Hibbard went back-to-back in the fourth and the power barrage was capped with a solo shot by leadoff hitter
Griffin Watson.
Marist would respond in a big way with a 10-spot in the bottom half of the inning. Fairfield would then tally the next six runs of the game, highlighted by another five-spot in the fourth.
Charlie Pagliarini had the biggest hit of the stanza with a bases clearing three-run triple.
Ethan Hibbard would complete the comeback and put the Stags ahead with a RBI single to left.
Handal would have a hand in the next two Fairfield runs with a RBI single through the right side and then forced an errant throw on a stolen base, allowing the next run to score and increase the lead to 13-11.
Bucciero would cap the Stags scoring and bring home the 14th run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center.
After leading 14-13 heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Stags were not able to hold the lead after Marist loaded the bases with nobody out. The Stags were able to throw out the game-tying run out at home for the first out of the inning, but Marist came through with two runs.
Bayram Hot would reach on a fielder's choice while Dylan Hoy scored the game-winning run on a throwing error.
Handal led the team with three hits in the game while Pagliarini also had a multiple hit game with a pair of base knocks.
Matt Bergevin reached base three times and scored a game-high four runs. Pagliarini, Handal, and Bucciero all tied for the team-lead with three RBI.
The Stags will close out the final week of the regular season starting with a midweek contest at UMass on Tuesday at 4pm.
