FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The first collegiate home run for Fairfield University sophomore Dylan Reynolds could not come at a more opportune time as Reynolds blasted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Stags a 6-5 victory in the nightcap of their doubleheader against Niagara. The round tripper also capped a gritty bounce back contest for the Stags after dropping the opener 6-5.
 
"It's definitely something I will never forget," Reynolds said. "It's hopefully something that will get us on a hot streak going into the next week and especially next weekend against Rider."
 
Game Two: Fairfield 6 Niagara 5
It was not just the heroics of Reynolds that got the team believing that this could lead to momentum going into the next week, it was also the way the team showed their ability to bounce back. The Stag that showed the biggest bounce back was starting pitcher Josh Arnold. After allowing three runs in the first inning, Arnold settled down and did not allow another run in hurling a career-high 6.2 innings.
 
Fairfield (8-15, 2-4 MAAC) would quickly get those three runs back and then some, putting up a five spot in the bottom half of the first. With two outs and one on, Kevin Radziewicz reached base on an error that would change the complexion of the inning. Four different Stags would later record a RBI in the frame, starting with an infield hit by Drew Blake, and followed by a RBI double from Dan Ryan and a run scoring hit by Mitch Williams. The five-run frame was capped off by a RBI double by Brett Morrison, the first run scoring hit of his career.
 
The score would stay at 5-3 with impressive pitching by Arnold and Niagara's (7-12, 2-1 MAAC) Ben Erwin. Arnold not only showed his toughness on the mound by working through the Niagara lineup, but also doing so coming back from an injury. Greg Cullen scorched a line drive off the glove hand of Arnold in the third, but the sophomore was able to stay in the game and allow just two hits the rest of the way.
 
Fairfield had a few chances to add to their lead with the bases loaded and nobody out in the sixth but was not able to scratch across a run. That opportunity would hurt the Stags as Niagara tied the game in the eighth on a pinch hit double by Dawson Bailey.
 
Dan Ryan led off in bottom of the eighth for the Stags with a walk, and would advance to second on a balk and then scoot over to third on a failed pick off. However, the Stags could not plate another run until Reynolds' round tripper to lead off the bottom of the ninth.
 
Ian Halpin recorded the win in relief after throwing a scoreless ninth, striking out power hitter Peter Battaglia and making a nice play on a dribbler down the first baseline. Halpin sprinted to the line and underhanded the throw to first where Anthony Boselli made the bare handed putout.
 
Game One: Niagara 6 Fairfield 5
The Stags did not get their first hit in the opener until the fifth inning, but made the base knock count. Mitch Williams got the Stags in the hit column and would end up on third after a walk and a passed ball. Tim Zeng tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center.
 
Niagara would add a five-spot in the sixth with all the runs coming with two outs. Wyatt Olson broke the tie with a double to center and the Purple Eagles would add three more runs on two Fairfield errors.
 
The Stags chipped away at the deficit, plating three runs in their half of the sixth. Reynolds started the inning with a pinch hit single, which would be followed by walks to Drew Arciuolo and Jack Gethings. With the bases loaded and nobody out, the Stags would score their three runs on a RBI groundout by Radziewicz and a sacrifice fly by Williams. Arciuolo would also cross the plate on an error.
 
Trailing by two in the final inning, the Stags would load the bases again with one out in the seventh.  Radziewicz would make it a one run game with a sacrifice fly but Matthew Grace would tally the final out on a fly out to left.
 
Despite not making a start, Reynolds joined Williams as the only Stags with hits in both games of the twin bill.
 
Fairfield will look to grab this momentum when they hit the road for two mid-week contests starting with a Tuesday contest at UConn at 3pm.