MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro short stop Luca Pellegrini backhands a line drive before throwing to first base for an out in the fourth inning.

As Wednesday’s winner’s bracket final continued at Lamade Stadium, it appeared Fairfield, Connecticut was playing a game within the game.

Already playing an excellent Las Vegas, Nevada opponent, starting in the fourth inning, Fairfield started playing a game of, “Can you top this?” A series of plays in the third, fourth and fifth innings highlighted both this team’s remarkable defensive skill and pointed the way to Saturday’s U.S. Championship.

Three different players made game-altering plays during a tie game before second baseman Charlie McCullough and shortstop Luca Pellegrini (for a second time) kept the highlight reel continuing. The offense came alive, but it may have been defense which won this game as Fairfield prevailed 7-3 and became the first Connecticut team since 2013 to reach the U.S. Final.

“I’ve said it from Day 1, our defense is tops,” Fairfield manager Brian Palazzolo said. “It is phenomenal.”

Fairfield lived those words at the most crucial times Wednesday. The run of stellar plays first preserved a 3-3 tie and then a one-run advantage. If any of those plays goes a different way, Nevada may have won this game.

Instead, Fairfield remained undefeated the Series, winning its fourth consecutive game.

“We played an almost flawless defense today,” Palazzolo said. “They (Nevada) hit top to bottom today. They put a lot of balls in play and our gloves show up day in and day out.”

Nevada led 3-0 three batters into its order after Cache Mahan hit a three-run home run. From there, SJ Taxiliaridis did not allow another run and having that stifling defense behind him was a big reason why. The defensive clinic began in the third inning after Connecticut had scored three times to tie it. Jayden Lee looked like he would get momentum swinging back toward Nevada, drilling a rocket grounder into the hole between shortstop and third base. Instead, Pellegrini, the team’s shortstop, dove to his left and made a diving stop. He then immediately popped up and made a perfect throw to first baseman Tommy D’Amura, beating Lee by a step.

Somehow, center fielder Dante Madera found a way to one-up Pellegrini one batter later. Madera was playing shallow when Cutter Ricafort smashed a drive toward the wall. Channeling his inner-Willie Mays, Madera turned and sprinted back. He closed the gap but still had his work cut out, extending his arm as far as it could go. Madera reeled in the ball and a second out was recorded against the odds.

“When it comes to the bottom of the order I usually play them in. I’m so good at going back on balls that I just sprinted back; stuck my glove back,” Madera said. “It hit me on my pinkie and I just kind of squeezed it and somehow caught it. I don’t know how.”

Those two terrific plays loomed large when Dustin Greusel followed and belted a double to right field. If one play is not made it would be 4-3 and if both were not made it would be 5-3. Ethan Robertson then hit a single to right field, but again a Nevada sure lead turned into a mirage.

This time, right fielder Ben Herbst charged in, made a good scoop on the run and fired a one-hop throw home. The throw was slightly off line but right on time and gave catcher Jimmy Taxilaridis the time to make a quick tag and end the inning.

Against a lot of teams, Nevada would have scored at least three runs and generated five hits before an out was recorded. Against Fairfield, it could only tip its cap at the marvelous plays which came against it.

“They compete in the field. They made the plays, there’s no question about that,” Nevada manager TJ Fechser said. “They made some stellar plays. That play in the outfield was unbelievable. Throwing a guy out the plate. They did their job in the field.

That continued an inning later and again kept the game tied, 3-3. The difficulty meter was jacked up this time as Nevada put runners on second and third with no outs. McCullough started the defensive stand, fielding a grounder at second base, looking the lead runner back to third and throwing to first for the out. Pellegrini again went Ozzie Smith a batter later, diving to his left and making the stop. Like an inning earlier, Pellegrini again popped right back up, held the runner at third and unleashed a laser to first for the second out.

SJ Taxilaridis built on the momentum his defense generated and produced an inning-ending strikeout.

“We were in this spot, so I was just like throw strikes, let my defense make plays,” Taxiliaridis said. “They made every play.”

An inning later, Pellegrini it a go-ahead, RBI single and Fairfield never trailed again. The Metro champions maintained a one-run advantage in the bottom of the fifth, as Pellegrini and McCullough turned an inning-ending double play.

Fairfield turned super practices into even better execution against Nevada. Players freely admit that they would rather work on hitting at practice, but also understand how important it is.

The four Series games reinforce everything the coaches have both taught them and stressed each day. Fairfield has come from behind in each of its last three games and after edging Texas 1-0 in its opener. That came after Fairfield won two extra-inning games at regionals. Fairfield has made just one error at the Series and both the routine and spectacular plays it has made has ensured it will leave South Williamsport know worse than the world’s fourth best team.

“I prefer hitting, but defense is always fun when you’re making plays and just having a good time,” D’Amura said.

D’Amura kept the good times going in the sixth inning Wednesday, walloping a mammoth home run during a three-run sixth inning. That ignited a three-run rally as Fairfield went ahead, 7-3. The offense flourished over the final three innings and finished with 12 hits.

Still, on this day, the defense never resting is what decided this game.

“You have to bring the leather. This is not a one-sided hitting game,” Fechser said. “You can’t just rely on hitting and think a guy is going to strike out 18 guys today. You have to bring the leather. They did and they took care of business.”