Emmitsburg, Md. (April 1, 2023) – Mount St. Mary's was close to recreating glory by tying the score in the bottom of the eighth after being behind ten runs. A solo shot and a scoreless inning from the Mountaineers crushed those hopes as they lost to the Stags, 17-16. Shane Wockley had the hot hand today after finishing 3-4 with three home runs and six RBIs.
 
The game started quickly with a solo and two run shot by Fairfield's Charlie Pagliarini and Nick Sturino in the top of the first and second inning. Wockley responded with his first of the day knocking a two-run homerun over right field, 3-2. The Mountaineers pitching struggled in the third and fifth, putting them behind 12-2.
  
In the bottom of the fifth, Efrain Correa, Jr. broke the ice with an RBI after sending a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Tyler Long to walk across the plate, 12-3. Brady Drawbaugh stepped in the box and hit a double that faded beautifully into right center which allowed Scott Seeker to score. The next batter being Wockley who stepped to the plate and knocked home run number two to left field, batting Drawbaugh in, 12-6 through five.
 
Fairfield gained two runs back in the top of the sixth after an RBI double by Sturino and a score on a wild pitch to go back up eight runs. Seeker homered to left field with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to respond and keep momentum for the Mountaineers heading into the seventh inning.
 
Sturino was consistent today as he earned two more RBIs through a base clearing double in the top of the seventh, 16-8.
 
However, the seventh and eighth innings belong to the Mount after recording four home runs. Jayson Kramer started things off with a three-run shot to right field. In the eighth, Aiden Tierney knocked a solo shot to left field followed by a two-run bomb by Wockley. JT Landwehr singled to center which brought up David Stirpe who capped off the rally and tied the game with a two-run blast to center field.
 
The Mountaineers head to the ninth with some steam, turning a once lopsided game into a crucial battle going into the final inning of the game. In the top of the inning, Mike Handal knocked a solo shot to right center to put his team ahead one, 17-16 going into the bottom of the frame. Mount St. Mary's put batters on first and second with no outs via a Tyler Long single and a Seeker walk. A very unfortunate Tierney grounder directly at third base resulted in a double play, which had the Mountaineers staring at two outs and a runner on first. The Mountaineers were unable to cash in on the opportunity and lost a thrilling matchup.
 
Aiden Tierney went 4-6 with two doubles an RBI and a home run while Brady Drawbaugh finished with a similar stat line in 3-5 at the plate with three doubles and an RBI.
 
UPCOMING
 
Mount St. Mary's and Fairfield conclude the series tomorrow (4/2) at 1 p.m. at E.T. Straw Family Stadium in what will be the rubber game.