Fairfield picked up a key midweek win against Yale, 9-6 at home on Tuesday afternoon, after a great day for the offense. Yale also made it easier for the Stags, making three errors during the game that led to multiple runs.
Fairfield improved to 12-11(7-2) after picking up a crucial win and making the all-time series 12-5, which dates back to April 14, 2010.
The biggest moment in the game was when, in the eighth inning, the Stags had a man on 1st and 2nd base with senior infielder Luke Nomura up to bat with the game tied. Nomura took a pitch and blasted it to left field, where it hit off the scoreboard and left the yard, making the score 9-6, which was the eventual final score.
But to start the game off, Fairfield got a decent start out of sophomore pitcher Jack Sheldon, who pitched four scoreless innings and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning. Sheldon then ran into a little trouble in the fifth, where he was taken out after allowing a single and hitting a batter, which eventually added to his stat line when they came around to score after some hits were let up by the new pitcher.
Sheldon had a final stat line in this game of four innings pitched, four hits, two earned runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. While the Bulldogs weren’t as strong in that department as the Stags were. First-year pitcher Matt Pearch came in to start the game for the Bulldogs. Perch came into this one with an 8.10 earned run average after coming off a good outing against Sacred Heart.
But the Stags got to Pearch early, only being able to pitch two innings, letting up two hits and one earned run, but leaving the game in the third with the bases loaded. Perch also received no help from the defense, with the offense receiving a break after an error by Yale’s third basemen led to senior outfielder Matthew Bucciero reaching base and continuing the inning.
The Stags would then take the lead 2-0 in the third inning after sophomore pitcher Alex Hwang came in to relieve Pearch and walked a run in after letting up a walk to senior catcher JP Kuczik, who was serving as the designated hitter for the game. Then graduate catcher Dom Camera walked, scoring another run for the Stags, making the game 2-0.
The Stags continued hitting into the next inning, getting to Hwang after the bases were loaded again. Nomura grounded out but was able to drive in a run in the process. Then Kuczik singled to the third baseman after he dropped a line drive, which allowed another runner to score. Finally, sophomore outfielder Jake Haarde singled to left field, which drove in another run, making the score 5-0 to end the fourth.
Senior pitcher Will Youngman came in to relieve Sheldon and struggled to get outs after giving up five runs in the fifth. This tied the game going into the sixth inning. Junior pitcher Alex Frank came into the game and battled to get out of the inning, but eventually let up a sacrifice fly to junior infielder Colin Sloan to take the lead.
Bucciero wasted no time after hitting a homer to tie the game during his first at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore pitcher Nick Kelly came in to pitch the eighth and got out of it quickly, picking up the win.
Runners stayed on base after Yale made their third error of the day, which led to the Nomura home run. Junior pitcher Ryan Maiorano came in to pitch the ninth, picking up a save after getting out of another bases-loaded jam for the Stags.
