May 1, 2007

Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, CT - The Fairfield University baseball team scored in each of the first four innings, including a six-run fourth, to beat Sacred Heart 13-5 Tuesday afternoon. It was the first meeting between the two squads since 1993.

Freshman Jason Rago tied the Fairfield school record for hits in a game and singles in a game by finishing with five hits in six trips. In addition to his hits, Rago had four RBI and two runs scored.

Sophomore Doug Ciallella threw the first six innings for the Stags and allowed two runs on five hits. He struckout four and walked just one. Freshman Eric Romanchuk took the loss for the Pioneers, giving up four runs and five hits in just two innings.

After getting single runs in each of the first two innings, the Stags chased Romanchuk in the third after a two-run single by Rago made it 4-0. Fairfield broke the game open in the top of the fourth inning, scoring six times off Pioneer reliever Jared Balbcah.

The Pioneers scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a Pete Kandybowicz single to right center. SHU plated another run in the sixth inning on Rob Tencza's fourth homer of the season.

SHU got two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth after a throwing error by the Fairfield second baseman allowed the Pioneers to load the bases with no one out. Jamie Morales drove in one with a bases-loaded walk, and Kandybowicz drove home the other with a sacrifice fly.

There were two bright spots for the SHU pitching staff. Freshman Corey Corcoran (Norwich, CT) came on in the fourth inning and pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Kandybowicz made the first pitching appearance of his Pioneer career and threw a scoreless ninth, striking out the last batter he faced.