FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Jake Salpietro's go-ahead two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning did more then just give the Stags a series opening 3-2 victory against Niagara, it gave them confidence and momentum going into the nightcap. The Stags showcased their newly found energy by exploding for six runs in the first inning en-route to a 9-3 victory and a doubleheader sweep of Niagara. Fairfield has now won six-straight conference games to move to 6-2 in the MAAC.

“You get confidence coming after a hit like that,” Head Coach Bill Currier said. “We were down 2-1 for what seemed like a long time and then you get that big hit. You certainly get momentum going into the second game.”

Although it may have seemed like a long time, the Stags (14-17, 6-2 MAAC) were only trailing after Niagara (10-22-1, 6-5 MAAC) struck for two runs in the fifth after RBI singles from Michael Fuhrman and Taylor Hackett.

The Stags got a run back in the sixth after the first big hit of the game for Salpietro with a RBI single through the left side. His day was just beginning.

Salpietro's first game heroics was set up by the pitching of John Signore and Aaron Howell who kept the team in the game. Signore allowed two runs (none earned) in his seven innings of work. As usual, the national leader in both strikeout-to-walk ratio and fewest walks per nine innings, kept the ball around the plate by giving up just one walk on five strikeouts.

Michael Conti was the first base runner in the eighth, drawing a one out walk and Drew Arciuolo followed with a single through the left side.

With two outs and facing a 2-2 pitch, Salpietro drove the sixth pitch of the at-bat in the left center field gap, which plated the two deciding runs.

Aaron Howell would make sure the lead stayed in tact by finishing the game forcing a groundball with the tying run 90 feet away.

The Stags would not need any dramatic ending in the nightcap after scoring six runs in the first inning with four different Stags picking up RBI.

Fairfield got the first six batters to reach base, forcing the Niagara starter out of the game before recording an out. Kevin Radziewicz singled in two runs to greet the new pitcher and Mac Crispino followed with his own run scoring single. Ninth place hitter Michael Conti capped the scoring output when his single scored Crispino as the Stags batted around in the opening frame.

Another positive for the Stags in this game was that they kept adding on. Mitch Williams and Jack Gethings added RBI singles in the fifth and Crispino notched another RBI with a single in the sixth.

Every starter for the Stags reached base in the 9-3 victory while six different players recorded a RBI.

Although Gavin Wallace's stat line will show three runs (two earned) allowed, he was really cruising through the early portion of the game. The right-hander actually threw just 18 total pitches through the first three innings, but a two-run homer in the seventh became the blemish for an otherwise productive outing.

The Stags are now 6-2 in the conference and for the momentum have the best conference winning percentage. Six consecutive MAAC wins and a hot pitching staff will help that. The Stags pitching has allowed three runs or fewer in eight of their last nine contests.

“We're starting to get better pitching, which is keeping us in the game,” Currier said. “That allows us to get a clutch hit.”

The Stags will send Kyle Dube to the mound to try for their second-straight MAAC sweep, something the Stags have not done since 1997, when the junior pitches in the series finale on Sunday at noon.