FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Baseball team was forced to battle back after Niagara exploded for nine runs in the second innings, but the Stags could not chip all the way back as they fell to Niagara 13-8 in their 2018 home opener. Fairfield tallied 10 hits by seven different players and drew 13 walks, but could not take full advantage by stranding 13 runners.
 
The Stags (7-14, 1-3 MAAC) were the first team on the board by putting up two runs in their first time at bat in the first. Jack Gethings would single in the game's first run and Drew Blake would double him home, opening up a 2-0 lead for the home side.
 
That would be the only lead for the Stags, and it didn't last long. Niagara (6-11, 1-0 MAAC) sent 13 batters to the plate in their nine run frame with the first eight reaching base safely. Trevor McCauley capped the scoring with a home run to right field.
 
The Purple Eagles would add a run in the fourth and two in the fifth, forcing the Stags to try and rally. Chip away they did, as they started their run by plating four in the bottom half of the fifth. Kevin Radziewicz and Mitch Williams knocked in a run with RBI singles and Tom Ryan brought home a run with a bases loaded walk. Niagara would bring in Alex Jones with the bases loaded and two outs, and Jones was able to get the next hitter to strikeout swinging to end the threat.
 
Fairfield would strand seven hitters over the next three innings, managing to bring only two runners home on a bases loaded walk by Dan Ryan and a balk. The Stags had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth, but Jones was able to end the innings on a 1-2-3 double play. The Stags had one more rally in them in the eighth, loading the bases on two walks, but Tyler Howard was able to end the jam.
 
The Stags drew 13 walks in the game with both teams combining to walk 21 hitters in the contest.
 
The backend of the Stags bullpen did an admirable job giving the Stags a chance to mount their rally. Nick Grabek threw 1.2 scoreless frames and Brendan Harkin allowed just one earned run over his two frames of work.
 
Gethings, Tim Zeng, and Ian Halpin paced the Stags with a pair of hits, with Gethings scoring a game-high three runs.
 
The two teams are back in action tomorrow for a doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for noon.