FAIRFIELD, Conn. – When the teams approached the starting gate, the Stags were considered the dark horse. But now as we near the final turn of the MAAC regular season, the long shot has pulled in front of the pack. The Fairfield University baseball team went toe-to-toe with the reigning MAAC Champions Canisius, and charged past the Golden Griffs by taking the rubber game 7-3 at Alumni Diamond. With Iona defeating Monmouth earlier today, the Stags, who were picked eighth in the MAAC preseason poll, are now percentage points ahead of the Hawks for first place in the conference.

“It's a good benchmark for us,” Head Coach Bill Currier said. “Beating a good team, beating good pitching, it really is. It was going to come down to both team's pitching and we got the runs when we needed it.”

The Stags (24-22, 13-5 MAAC) had an uphill climb right out of the gate as Canisius (26-23, 12-6 MAAC) scratched across three runs in the first three innings, with Tim Kensinger's two-out, two-run single in the third being the biggest blow.

Fairfield trailed 3-0 against statistically the best pitching in the conference, as Canisius entered the series with the best ERA in the league. But the Stags weathered the storm, and did what they have done all season long. Fairfield got the pitching settled and allowed the offense enough time to get the runs back as they sprinted to the finish.

Kyle Dube gave the Stags six innings and allowed a lone single over his final three innings, retiring seven-straight after the third inning. As usual, the junior right-hander got stronger as the game developed. Dube struck out two batters in the seventh, including getting a swing and miss on his 117th and final pitch of the afternoon to get out of trouble in the sixth.

“My mindset was just to minimize,” Dube said about his battling. “Just keep the game in striking range for our hitters. I struggled for the first three innings and could not really locate. I just had to focus in by limiting the damage and give our hitters a chance.”

That allowed the offense to figure out the Canisius pitching, leading to a tie game in the fifth. Jake Salpietro crushed a 1-1 pitch high into the skies in left field, but the wind that was sweeping over the field knocked it down and Salpietro had to settle for a RBI double. Michael Conti, who reached with a walk scored the tying run. Salpietro would later score when Mac Crispino grounded into a double play.

The Stags added insurance runs in the later innings with a Drew Arciuolo sacrifice fly into shallow center in the sixth and a two-run double by Troy Scocca in the seventh.

“It was a full team win today,” Scocca said. “We got some clutch hits and everyone is getting comfortable as the season goes on and we are going to carry this on to the playoffs.”

Leading 7-3, the bullpen of the Stags secured the deal. Mike Bonaiuto went 1.2 innings and did not allow a run, and Aaron Howell finished the final 1.1 innings, allowing just two base runners. In the 14 appearances since being moved into the bullpen, Howell has a 4-1 record with a 2.17 ERA and three saves.

The Stags have not clinched a playoff spot yet, but are five games cleared from the seventh placed team in the standings with six games to play. The Stags can clinch a playoff spot with two wins against Monmouth in next weekend's series, which will again determine which team will be in first place heading into the final series.

“Making a statement by beating a good team like Canisius definitely tells the rest of the league we are a legit team,” Dube said. “We can hit, pitch, and play defense.”

With those qualities, the Fairfield University baseball team might actually have a shot at crossing the finish line in first.