Brash Tosses Third Complete Game, Leads NU To DH Split With Fairfield

GAME 40

SCORE Fairfield 6 – Niagara 5

RECORDS Fairfield (28-18, 13-6 MAAC) – Niagara (11-29, 5-11 MAAC)

LOCATION Bobo Field

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Matthew Brash tossed his third complete game of the season as Niagara split a doubleheader with Fairfield on Saturday.

Game Recap

A two-RBI single from the Stags in the top of the third inning opened scoring in the game and gave Fairfield a 2-0 lead over NU.

In the bottom of the third, Dawson Bailey homered to left field, cutting Fairfield’s lead to one, 2-1.

Both teams were strong on defense, but Fairfield began to pick up offensive momentum in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to take a 5-1 lead. The Stags added on one more run in the eighth to lead the Purple Eagles by five runs, 6-1.

The Purple Eagles mounted a late comeback. Darian Blanks scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. A two-RBI single from Blanks and an RBI single from Bailey in the ninth put NU within one run of the lead, but Fairfield came away with the 6-5 victory.

Eagle’s Eye On…

Bailey, Blanks and Max Giordano led the Purple Eagles at the plate with two hits each.

Bailey and Blanks each had a team-high two RBI.

Blanks recorded his second triple of the season and Bailey added a double.

Tyler Howard (3-8) took the loss on the mound. He fanned five and was responsible for four earned runs in 6.2 innings pitched.

GAME 41

SCORE Niagara 4 - Fairfield 1 (7 innings)

RECORDS Niagara (12-29, 6-11 MAAC) – Fairfield (28-19, 13-7 MAAC)

LOCATION Bobo Field

Game Recap

The Purple Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Benny Serrano doubled down the left field line, scoring Bailey and Michael Gabriele to put NU ahead of the Stags, 2-0.

A two-RBI triple from Giordano in the second stanza extended the Purple Eagle’s lead, 4-0. It was Giordano’s first career triple.

Fairfield added one run in the fifth, but Brash and the Niagara defense held strong to earn to the 4-1 win.

Eagle’s Eye On…

Brash (4-5) continued to impress on the mound, throwing his third career complete game. Brash struck out seven and allowed just one earned run, lowering his ERA to 2.50. He walked just one batter.

Bailey, Giordano and Serrano each had one of NU’s three total hits.

Giordano and Serrano led the Purple Eagles with two RBI each.