RICHMOND, Va. – Dean Ferrara started the day with a leadoff home run and ended the twin bill with a three-hit game as the Fairfield University Baseball team split a doubleheader against Richmond on Sunday. The Stags dropped a 2-1 decision on a walk-off single in the first game and powered through a 6-3 victory in the nightcap, handing Richmond their first loss of the season.
Game One: Richmond 2; Fairfield 1 (7)
Ferrara took the third pitch he saw over the outfield wall for his first homer of the spring and get the Stags off to a fast start. That would be the lone offense for the Stags who tallied just two more hits in the seven-inning contest with singles from
Matthew Bucciero and
Tyler Kipp.
Sophomore
Ben Alekson was impressive in his second start of the spring as he allowed just an unearned run on three hits in six innings of work. The right-hander struck out six and walked only one while tossing just 71 pitches.
Joey Wilga would end the game with a RBI single up the middle, breaking the 1-1 tie and giving Richmond their fifth-straight win.
Game Two: Fairfield 6; Richmond 3
Sean Meth and
JP Kuczik both tallied RBI singles in the first inning as the Stags jumped out in front for the second-straight game.
After Richmond's Jack Arcamone put the Spiders on the board with a RBI double, the Stags would plate four unanswered runs, scoring in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
Kipp started the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Ferrara picked up another hit in the sixth with a RBI single.
Nolan Colby and
Luke Nomura accounted for the two runs in the seventh with a pair of two-out RBI singles.
Bowen Baker hurled the first 4.2 innings allowing just one run on four hits.
Matthew Grabmann made his second relief appearance in the spring with 3.1 strong frames while striking out five.
Kevin Kell finished the game striking out the side in the ninth.
The Stags pounded out 16 hits in their victory, led by a season-high four from Nomura. Ferrara and Colby were right behind with three base knocks while Meth, Bucciero, and Kuczik all tallied a pair.
The two teams will play in the rubber game on Monday at 1:30pm.