The satisfying cling of bats sending baseballs over the outfield fence was a welcomed part of the soundtrack for Fairfield University’s baseball team this past weekend. In a three-game streak that saw 11 home runs in total, the Stags have signaled to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference that they’re over the early-season jitters and ready to compete.
First up against Fordham, graduate student RHP Kyle Lesler took the mound against the Rams and got run support as early as in the bottom of the 1st from a 2-RBI homer from graduate student catcher Ethan Hibbard. The Stags’ defense kept the Rams at bay enough to score another two, thanks to a double from graduate student center fielder Ryan Strollo to bring home graduate student second baseman Zach Selinger and sophomore shortstop Luke Nomura, who had both stolen bases. Up by four runs, Lesler gave up an RBI double and then an unfortunate sequence of pitches led to the bases loaded on either HBP or walks, to which one last HBP brought another runner in, making it 4-2. Senior RHP Colin McVeigh was put in to get out of the jam, and the last two outs came from fly-outs that brought in another two runs, leaving the score even at the top of the 3rd.
The bottom of the 3rd was productive for the Stags, as senior first baseman Matt Bergevin took advantage of inaccurate pitching and walked, setting up Hibbard for his second 2-RBI home run of the day. Sophomore right-fielder Matt Bucciero wanted in on the action and smashed another to right field, making it 7-4 Stags.
By the time it was the 6th inning, Hibbard sent another ball out past the center field fence, earning his third home run. Bucciero then singled to center field, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and was brought home by senior left-fielder Paul Catalano who singled to right field.
The score was 9-4 going into the 7th, and the Rams fought back by scoring another run after a sequence of a double, stolen base and a fly-out.
At the bottom of the 7th, first-year designated hitter Matt Lussier had a productive at-bat and walked, advanced to second on a ground-out and was brought home by a Strollo double. In the next two innings, the Rams tried to rally up a tied ball game but were capped at seven runs by the time sophomore RHP Kevin Kell was put in to relieve McVeigh, to which they only managed to scrape up another run, making the final score 10-8.
Game two the day was against Army West Point, and the power of the Stags’ bats did not die down. The offense was not the only impressive display, though, as senior left-handed starting pitcher Blake Helmstetter went all seven innings with a solid final line of 7 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB and 8 K.
Egged on by Sham Jam participants and loyal fans in the stands, the Stags opened up, scoring in the bottom of the 3rd with yet another 2-RBI home run, this time from a straight-shot past left field from Bergevin. Hibbard then singled to right field, to which Bucciero got in on the action with a moonshot to right center field. The score was 4-0 Stags by the time the side was retired. Army fought back, scoring three runs on two RBI singles and a sacrifice bunt.
Left with only a lead of one run, the Stags decided to add some cushion to the score.
In the most perfect opportunity, the Stags loaded the bases for Bergevin, and he thanked them for their hard work by ripping a grand slam that carried past the left field fence. Following the party that was thrown in the dugout, Hibbard wanted in on the festivities and homered again to center field. By the time the party died down, it was 9-3 Stags at the bottom of the 4th.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Stags were once again with bases loaded due to walks and a HBP from a pitcher fresh out of the bullpen. Bucciero took advantage of the fresh arm in front of him and hit a grand slam to left field that revived the party in the stands and dugout. The score was 13-3 going into the 6th.
Army remained silent on the scoreboard with three runs but tried to keep spirits up to rival the energy coming from the Stags, but Fairfield’s energy propelled them to score another run on a wild pitch and two consecutive passed balls. The final score was 14-3 in the 7th.
In the last game of their lively weekend, the Stags faced Fordham once again, this time in the Bronx. First-year RHP Ben Alekson took the mound to start and only slipped up to give a 2-RBI double in the bottom of the second.
The Stags did not leave Alekson unsupported, though, as the offense woke up in the top of the 3rd. With impressive baserunning, Selinger made it to third and set up junior third-baseman Dean Ferrara for an RBI single, opening scoring for the day. Ferrara then made it to third on a Bergevin double, followed by the first home run of the day that was rocketed toward right field for three RBIs. By the time the side retired, it was 4-2.
Fordham managed to scrape up a third run in the bottom of the third but was stuck there for the rest of the game.
However, for the Stags, the offensive machine just kept on running.
Hibbard worked his way out of a 1-2 count to pick up an RBI single, runners advanced due to an error and were rushed home during a Catalano 2-RBI single, Catalano stole second and made it home off a ground-rule RBI double from Nomura. The score was 8-3 at the top of the 5th.
Sophomore outfielder Payten Wawruck was put in as a pinch hitter and hit a double down the right-field line, advanced to third on a fly-out and was brought home by a Bergevin single. Hibbard joined in on the action and also singled, advancing Bergevin to second. Bucciero then collected his third home run of the day and sent the Stags up by another three runs. Selinger capped off the scoring with one last RBI single. The final score was 13-3.
Following this three-game win streak, Hibbard earned his second-straight designation as MAAC Player of the Week. Hibbard batted .750 this weekend, going 9-for-12 and tying Fairfield’s record for single-game home runs with three. He currently leads the MAAC and ranks third nationally with a .500 average.
The Stags return to action from home at Don and Chris Cook Field in a three-game series on Friday against NJIT. First pitch is scheduled for 3 pm.
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