WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth's baseball team (27-24, 16-8 MAAC) fell to Fairfield (26-23, 15-6 MAAC) Sunday afternoon, 8-4 to wrap up conference play. Christian Holland (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) had three hits for Monmouth.
The Stags jumped out to a 5-0 lead on five unearned runs, scoring two in the opening inning. Kevin Radziewicz drove in a run on a ground out and Mac Crispino singled to left center to plate a second and give Fairfield an immediate 2-0 advantage.
The visitors struck for three more in the fourth, getting a sacrifice fly from Tyler Gambardella after loading the base with nobody out. Michael Conti came through with a two-run single to center off Kyle Ajjan (Chester Springs, PA/Downingtown East), who relieved starter Anthony Ciavarella (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) after Ciavarella was injured covering first base in the third. Conti's hit made it 5-0 Stags.
MU got a run back in the fourth with three consecutive hits, started when Cary Jacobson (Los Angeles, CA/Palisades) singled through the left side for Monmouth's first baserunner of the day. Dan Shea (Wilmington, DE/Salesianum) singled up the middle on the infield, and Chris Gaetano (Madison Township, PA/Scranton Preparatory) lined a single into right center to get the Hawks on the board.
Designated hitter Troy Scocca lined a two-run homer over the right field wall in the fifth to add to the Fairfield lead, making it 7-1.
Monmouth got three unearned runs in the sixth to cut it to 7-4, with Grant Lamberton (Newark, DE/Salesianum) and Jacobson drawing walks before Shea reached on an error by Mac Crispino behind first to load the bases with nobody out. Bailey hit one up the middle that the Fairfield middle infield booted on a double play attempt to plate a run, and Holland's second hit of the day was a run-scoring single to right. Aidan Favia (Short Hills, NJ/Millburn) grounded out to first to score a third run and cut the Fairfield lead to 7-4 after six.
The Stags added a run in the seventh on a bases loaded walk after a 10-pitch at bat from pinch hitter Mitch Williams to go up 8-4.
Kyle Dube got the win, allowing four runs, one earned in 6.1 innings. Mike Bonaiuto earned the save, and Brendan Tracy had three hits for the Stags.
Holland had three hits for MU, and Ciavarella took the loss. McCrum tossed 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit to his record.
Monmouth takes on Hofstra on Tuesday afternoon at home at 3:00 p.m.
MONMOUTH BASEBALL DEFEATED BY FAIRFIELD, 8-4
