FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Dean Ferrara and
Colin McVeigh both matched single-season program records as the Fairfield University Baseball team also clinched a top-two seed with a 7-2 victory against Quinnipiac on Thursday. Ferrara collected three hits to bring his season total to 88 which ties Jack Gethings' single-season program mark while McVeigh picked up his ninth win of the season, also matching the school record.
"It was a good job by our two pitchers," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "Colin did a good job of keeping them down only giving up a couple of hits.
Chris DiFiore did a good job coming in and limiting them getting on base."
With the win, the Stags raise their MAAC record to 19-3, improving the country's best conference winning percentage. They also guarantee themselves a top-two seed in the upcoming MAAC Championships and a first-round bye.
Ferrara led off his historic day by chopping the first pitch he saw up the middle for an infield single. He would advance the second on a wild pitch and score the game's first run on a
Matt Bergevin double play.
The Stags would actually plate the first seven runs of the game, highlighted by a
Matt Bucciero homer over the left center field wall, his 15th of the season.
Paul Catalano added a RBI single up the middle and Bergevin would bring home two on a high pop up that fell in front of a charging right fielder for a two-run double.
Nick Sturino added a run with a fielder's choice and Ferrara capped the scoring with a RBI single to right, his 88th hit of the season, tying the single-season record set back in 2019. Ferrara entered the game in the top-five in the nation in base hits.
On the mound, McVeigh was dominant through the first five of his six inning outing. He allowed just one hit – a bunt single – through the first five frames. He struck out a batter to end each of those innings. McVeigh would tally seven strikeouts to bring his season total to 91.
McVeigh tallied his ninth win of the year, tying
Jake Noviello and Michael Sansone's single-season record set back in 2021.
DiFiore would come in relief and pitch the final three innings, allowing just one run for his second save of the year.
Fairfield will need to win one of the final two games against Quinnipiac to secure at least a share of the MAAC Regular Season Championship, extending their MAAC record.
The two teams will play in the middle game of the series on Friday at 1pm.
