Split start: The baseball team started the MAAC season with a 3-3 record, winning its first series against Marist and then losing in the series against Niagara.
The Stags beat Marist on March 22 and then bounced back from a loss later that day to win on March 24. In the first game, Rob Gariano ’10 pitched a complete game to lead Fairfield to the victory. In nine innings, Gariano allowed just two hits and struck out seven. Jason Rago ’10 drove in Fairfield’s lone run in the 1-0 victory.
In the second game, the Red Foxes blanked the Stags 3-0, but Fairfield came back on Sunday to win 4-3 behind another strong pitching outing. Doug Ciallella ’09 and Kevin Fico ’10 combined to allow three runs in the win.
The Stags’ offense exploded in the first game of their series with Niagara on March 29. Albie DeSimone ’08 and Tucker Nathans ’11 each had four hits and a home run in the 13-3 win. Gariano and Fico combined for a five-hit victory.
In the second half of the doubleheader, Niagara won 3-2 and then the Stags fell 7-1 in the final game of the series.
The Stags return to MAAC action on April 5 against St. Peter’s in New Jersey.
Tennis teams start MAAC season: After weather delayed the start of the men’s and women’s MAAC tennis seasons, the Stags started strong this weekend with a sweep of their games at Siena.
In the matches, the men picked up a 5-2 victory, while the women also won 5-2.
The men were led by sophomore Ryan Berthod, who defeated the reigning MAAC Player of the Week, Jeremy Deuel of Siena, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the first singles match. He also teamed up with Chip Palumbo ’09 to earn the only Stags’ doubles victory of the day.
Also picking up wins in singles were Glen Gannon ’08, George Laffey ’11, Rob Ferrante ’11 and Palumbo.
On the women’s side, sophomore Paulina Rys picked up a win in the second singles position after fellow sophomore Dana Postupack lost in the first singles position. Postupack and Rys also lost in the No. 1 doubles spot.
Alyssa Ruiz ’11, Lauren Bonanno ’09 and Courtney Price ’08 also secured singles victories.
Both teams stumbled in non-conference losses to Hofstra on Sunday.
Male Athlete of the Week
ATHLETE: Tucker Nathans ’11 SPORT: Baseball ACHIEVEMENT: Nathans won the Rookie of the Week award while helping the Stags to a 3-3 start in the MAAC season. While hitting .538 with four RBI, a home run and three runs scored, he also reached based at a .647 clip. Nathans did not strike out in 13 at-bats, while walking three times and being hit by a pitch. Nathans also extended his hitting streak to seven games.
Female Athlete of the Week
ATHLETE: Kristen Coleman ’11 SPORT: Lacrosse ACHIEVEMENT: Coleman was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time. She has earned an award in each of the season’s five weeks, including one defensive player of the week award and two Rookie of the Week awards. Coleman is leading the team in all offensive categories, with 37 total points, tops in the league and 25 goals, which is also the best in the MAAC.
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