FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Niagara University baseball team (13-20, 7-6) fell to Fairfield University (9-26, 7-8), 6-4, Monday at Alumni Diamond, dropping two of three games in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series.
The Purple Eagles surrendered six runs between the fourth and sixth innings in the two-run loss to the Stags, dropping Niagara’s record in conference play to 7-6.
Ahead, 1-0, heading into the bottom of the fourth, Niagara sophomore pitcher Dan Griffin (Schenectady, N.Y.) walked Fairfield junior Tom Arpino with the bases loaded tying the game at 1-1. Two batters later with the bases still loaded, Griffin hit Fairfield freshman Brian Rudolph, allowing the go-ahead run.
The Purple Eagles scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Leading the Niagara comeback effort were juniors Mike Medici (Latham, N.Y.) and Mike Alati (Woodbridge, Ont.), who both hit RBI-singles in the top of the fifth.
The Stags stormed back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, never trailing for the remainder of the contest. Junior John Scaife hit a two-run single down the left field line to score the two runs in the fifth for Fairfield.
Niagara junior Dan Parsons (Liverpool, N.Y.) tied the game the following inning with a sacrifice fly, scoring junior Matt Schaefer (Clifton Park, N.Y.), but the Stags scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning to seal the 6-4 win. Fairfield sophomore Brian Schappert provided the game-winning run with a single to right, scoring freshman Adam Chilelli.
Stag sophomore Ed Kamintzky (3-3) earned the victory, pitching six innings and striking out five.
Griffin pitched five innings, allowing six hits and striking out eight in a no decision, with the loss credited to junior Kyle Nicoletta (Oakville, Ont.).
From the plate, Niagara was led by Medici, who went 3-for-5 with a two RBI, his team-leading 22nd and 23rd of the season.
Niagara looks to defend the Bisons Cup and the Big Four Baseball Classic crown when it returns to action Tuesday, facing Canisius College at Dunn Tire Park in the 2005 Big Four Baseball Classic. The start time of Tuesday’s game is slated for 3 p.m.
