FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Connor Scanlan lined a clutch two-out, two-strike, two-run double in the top of the eighth and
Jake Haarde added an important insurance run as the Fairfield University Baseball team held on for a 3-2 victory in the regular season finale against Sacred Heart. With the win, the Stags finish the regular season with a 27-21 overall record and a 20-10 mark in the MAAC. Fairfield will be the number three seed in the MAAC Championships and will play their first game in Wappinger Falls, N.Y., on Wednesday at 11am.
Scanlan's clutch double broke a scoreless tie between the two teams as he lined a 3-2 pitch to left to plater two and give the Stags a 2-0 lead. Haarde would follow with an RBI single on a 0-2 delivery to put the score at 3-0.
The Stags started their rally with two out and nobody on.
Nolan Colby worked a walk and
JP Kuczik singled to right. Pinch runner
Liam McIlroy stole second to set up Scanlan's big hit.
The Fairfield pitching kept the Pioneers off the scoreboard, matching Sacred Heart zero for zero. Starting pitcher
Jack Sheldon was dominant in his five innings of work allowing just one hit, a single in the fifth inning. He allowed just two base runners with a hit by pitch. The sophomore struck out five and needed just 57 pitches to get the first 15 outs of the game.
Brendon Miller got the win with three innings of work while
Nick Kelly picked up his second save of the season getting the final out with the tying run at third and winning run at second.
Jimmy Mulvaney induced a crucial double play with the bases loaded and nobody out in the ninth.
The 20-10 conference record marks the third-straight season the Stags have tallied 20 or more wins in conference play.
Fairfield has earned the No. 3 seed in the tournament and will begin their tournament title defense when they open up MAAC Championship play at Heritage Financial Park in Wappinger Falls, N.Y., on Wednesday at 11am.
