Monday, March 13, 2006

Fairfield's 12-run sixth inning lifted the Stags to a 20-11 victory over Valparaiso on Monday morning in Bradenton, Fla. in the Crusaders' final game of their spring trip.

The Crusaders led 3-1 heading into the fifth after Colin Reynolds (Crookston, Minn./Central H.S.) plated two runs with a double in the fourth. Fairfield scored three times in the bottom of the fifth before adding 12 in the sixth on 12 hits, 11 of which were singles. The Stags sent 16 batters to the plate in the inning.

Valpo answered with five in the seventh, all unearned, keyed by a three-run pinch-hit homer by Dallas Cawiezell (Long Grove, Iowa/North Scott H.S.). He also added a sacrifice fly in the ninth for the Brown and Gold.

Fairfield (2-5) tacked on three more unearned runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to secure the victory.

Kevin Kutansky (Schererville, Ind./Munster H.S.) went 4-for-4 plus a walk for the Cruasders while driving in a pair of runs. Ryan Manthei (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper H.S.) added two hits in three at bats.

Fairfield had four players with three hits each and Jim Girolamo drove in six runs while John Scaife had five RBIs.

Paul DeMarco earned the win for the Stags, working six innings allowing just three runs. Harvey Yergin (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) suffered the loss for Valpo.

Valparaiso (2-7) will return to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon as the Crusaders travel to Terre Haute, Ind. to face Indiana State. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. CST.