FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Baseball team clinched a series win over the Iona Gaels by completing the win in a suspended game with a 5-1 victory before falling in the series finale by a 5-4 score. The Stags snapped a six-game winning streak in that final game while their MAAC record now sits at 15-6 to place second in the MAAC.
Game One: Fairfield 5; Iona 1
In a game that was suspended in the top of the seventh yesterday, the Fairfield pitchers faced one batter over the minimum when play resumed to complete the 5-1 victory.
All the scoring in the game came in the first five innings with Iona getting on the board first with a RBI groundout.
The Stags plated with four runs in the third with
JP Kuczik getting the first RBI hit with a two-run single to left.
Connor Scanlan followed with the longest hit of the game with a two-run line drive homer over the left field wall.
Matthew Bucciero provided another insurance run in the fifth by taking a 3-2 pitch into the gap for a RBI double.
That would be plenty of run support for the Fairfield pitching who held the Gaels to seven hits and one run.
Harrison Engle picked up his second-straight conference victory by going 5.2 innings surrendering the lone first inning run.
Nick Kelly came in relief when play resumed and recorded the three-inning save by allowing just one hit and one walk and retiring the Gaels on just 30 pitches.
Game Two: Iona 5; Fairfield 4 (10)
The Stags held a 4-2 lead into the sixth, but Iona kept chipping away before tying the game in the seventh and eventually winning the game in extra frames.
Jake Haarde provided the biggest hit for the Stags with a three-run shot in the fourth to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead.
The Gaels would score a run in both the sixth and seventh frames tying the game at 4-4 with an Anthony Zollo double.
The Stags' best chance to take the lead came in the seventh as
Ryan Paine walked and
TJ Schmalzle singled to get two runners on and one out. Iona would get back-to-back fly outs to end the threat.
Leading off the tenth, Iona's Nickolas Mora launched the second pitch of the frame over the left center field wall and Iona would eventually take the 5-4 decision.
Schmalzle and Kuczik led the Fairfield offense with two hits apiece.
With their 15-6 MAAC record, the Stags are now tied with Niagara for second-place in the league standings and just one game behind Rider for the top-spot.
Fairfield will complete their home stand with a Tuesday non-conference match against Stony Brook at 3:30pm.
