Preview: Central Connecticut at Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Interstat) — The Fairfield Stags look to build on an offensive outburst and climb back to .500 when they host the Central Connecticut Blue Devils in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday evening at Webster Bank Arena.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. under challenging conditions, with a game-time forecast of 40 degrees and rain.

The Stags (9-10) enter riding momentum from a three-game road sweep of Saint Peter’s, capped by an 18-7 victory Sunday. Fairfield’s bullpen was dominant in the series finale, with reliever Will Youngman tossing 2 2/3 hitless innings. Youngman, a key arm to watch, has not allowed an earned run in four of his last five appearances.

Central Connecticut (5-8) seeks to halt a four-game skid after being swept by Long Island over the weekend. The Blue Devils fell 12-3 on Sunday despite a 2-for-3 performance from Matt Graziose, who hit his second home run in three games. The first baseman is a central figure in the CCSU lineup, showing power recently with two homers and five RBIs in his last 10 games.

The Stags’ offense, which scored 35 runs in the Saint Peter’s series, will test a Central Connecticut pitching staff that has allowed 10 or more runs in six of its eight losses this season.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-4 victory for Fairfield.

Following this matchup, the Blue Devils begin a three-game series at Stonehill on Friday. Fairfield travels to face Seton Hall in a neutral-site game in Binghamton, New York, on Saturday.