Baseball Better than Expected?

We here at The Mirror have been pretty tough on the baseball team all year long. But despite their struggles outside the MAAC conference, they have managed a 6-5 MAAC record so far. That record puts them in fourth place, much higher than the eighth-place finish the MAAC coaches predicted in the pre-season.

The Stags have done it with good pitching, as Ryan Calabrese, a junior who transferred from Nassau Community College this season, and senior Ed Kamitzky have been strong in MAAC play. Freshman Rob Gariano stepped up his game with his shutout of Iona on Saturday.

Fairfield has been winning the games it was supposed to, defeating Iona, who is 3-7 in conference play, twice, and also sweeping 2-7 Niagara. The Stags struggled against the top teams in the conference losing two out of three to second place Le Moyne and being swept by third place St. Peter's.

But their one win against Le Moyne was one of only two losses the Dolphins have had in the MAAC so far.

Fairfield has received good hitting at times, but the bats have also slowed down at key points this season. Junior Peter Allen has been Fairfield's best hitter, leading the team in batting average (.395), RBI (19), and home runs (3).

Allen has reached base safely in 31 straight games as well. He has been one of the top hitters in the conference.

As of April 9, he led the league in slugging percentage and doubles, and was in the top five in on-base percentage.

The baseball season is a long one and the Stags still have 15 MAAC games to play before the MAAC Championships on May 24, but as of now Fairfield is having a better season than most people expected.

-Tom Cleary