Fairfield, behind solid pitching, defeats UMass Lowell 5-3

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The Fairfield Stags may be four games under .500, but they possess one of best starting arms around. His name is John Signore, and he was on display Saturday night at LeLacheur Park. In seven dominant innings, he would hold the River Hawks batters to only two hits and one earned run, while striking out 11 and walking only two. Signore recorded at least one strikeout in six of the seven innings pitched. In the one inning that there were no fanned hitters, he retired the River Hawks in order.

He kept UMass Lowell off balance with a curveball that he could throw at any time for strikes and froze hitters with a fastball that must have seemed a lot quicker than it may have been. Signore did not throw on Saturday night, he pitched. And it was fun to watch.

On offense, the Stags were led by Drew Arciuolo, who had a three-hit, one RBI, and three stolen base night. Fairfield takes game one of the weekend series against the River Hawks 5-3.

The Stags jumped out on top in the very first inning versus UMass Lowell starter Andrew Ryan. In defeat, he pitched well going five frames, allowing five hits, three runs, two earned, two walks, and five punchouts.

M1 | Fairfield gets on the board first, 1-0. #AEBASE

— UMass Lowell Baseball (@RiverHawkBB) May 12, 2018

Leadoff hitter Jack Gethings drew a walk to get things going for Fairfield. Next man up was Arciuolo who singled to right-center field while Gethings scampered to third base. Arciuolo took a wide turn at first base and was caught in a rundown. While the River Hawks were executing the play, Gethings turn third and headed home with a head-first slide into home plate. He was safe, and the Stage had a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, UMass Lowell quickly tied the game. With one down, Mark Tumosa walked. He then stole second base (his fourth on the year), and move to third base when the throw from Fairfield catcher Kevin Radziewicz sailed into center field for a throwing error. Tumosa would score the tying run, on a double to right-center by first baseman Steve Passatempo. The RBI was his 27th on the season and it was part of a two-hit, two RBI night for the River Hawk junior.

B1 | Passatempo doubles to the gap in right center to score Tumosa to knot us up at 1-1! #AEBASE

— UMass Lowell Baseball (@RiverHawkBB) May 12, 2018

In the fifth, Fairfield would play small ball to take the lead for good. First baseman Anthony Boselli double into the left-field corner. He was sacrificed to third by the number nine hitter in the lineup, Tom Ryan. Gethings drove Boselli home with a sac fly to right. The RBI was Gethings 27th, and the sac fly was his third of the year.

They tacked on one more run in the inning against Ryan. Arciuolo reached on an error by SS Tumosa of UMass Lowell. He stole second base and then scored the Stage third run of the night on a base hit to center by Mitch Williams (RBI 28 for him). 3-1 Fairfield after five.

M5 | Fairfield puts two on the board to take a 3-1 lead. #AEBASE

— UMass Lowell Baseball (@RiverHawkBB) May 12, 2018

That would be all the run support that Signore would need. He finished his outing by throwing 105 pitches, 66 for strikes. He would allow one more hit before he exited for the night. That was an infield hit in the fourth to Russ Olive. Olive would be erased by a fielder choice out from Passatempo. Passatempo would reach third base on a wild pitch, then a passed ball. However, he would be stranded there as Signore would get Ted Leathersich and Cam Climo to strike out to end the inning.

Fairfield added to their advantage in the eighth scoring twice more against the River Hawks bullpen. It could have been worse but David Hoar III did leave the bases loaded after allowing two inherited runners to score. 5-1 Stags after eight.

The River Hawks did make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning. Fairfield brought on their third pitcher of the night in David Sacco, who got into trouble by walking Tumosa then hitting Olive. Passatempo brought home Tumosa with a base hit down the right-field corner, RbI number 28 for him. After pinch-hitter Vinnie Martin struck out, Climo hit a sac fly (RBI 37on the season) to right field to score Olive with the third River Hawks run of the night.

The rally came to an end when Kyle Maurice struck out to end the ballgame and his hitting streak. Final score Fairfield 5 UMass Lowell 3.

Signore’s record is now 6-4, and his team improves to 21-25. Ryan took the loss for UMass Lowell and his record is now at 4-4. Their record drops to 20-25.

A twin-bill is on tap for Mother’s Day at LeLacheur Park, first pitch of game one is set for noon.