FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The 2021 Fairfield University Baseball team accomplished feats that very few people thought possible. The team brought excitement and passion every day to the baseball diamond, leading to just one regular season loss and the program's first top-25 national ranking. However, baseball can be a humbling sport and the Stags fell short of one of their main goals as they dropped a 7-2 decision to the Rider Broncs in the MAAC Championship Series, giving the Broncs the MAAC Championship trophy. The loss came after Fairfield clinched a spot in the Championship series with an 8-2 win over Canisius earlier in the day.
Game One: Fairfield 8, Canisius 2
For the second-straight MAAC Championship game,
Trey McLoughlin stifled the Canisius bats and stepped up when his team needed him the most, as he struck out 11 batters over 6.1 innings to keep the Stags' Championship hopes alive. McLoughlin allowed just one run on three hits in picking up his second career tournament victory.
McLoughlin struck out at least two batters in the first four innings, including striking out the side in the third. In his two career MAAC Championship starts, McLoughlin has tallied a 0.60 ERA with 25 strikeouts and just one walk in 15.1 innings.
McLoughlin would get early run support as the Stags tallied runs in the first, second, and fourth innings.
Mike Caruso got the first big hit for the Stags as he took a 1-2 pitch the other way through the right side, plating
Mike Handal with the game's first run. Handal would drive in a run of his own in the next inning with a single to center.
After Canisius got on the board in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, the Stags would answer back by scoring the next five runs of the game.
Sean Cullen would draw a bases loaded walk and
Matt Venuto drove in a run with a RBI single in the fifth. Caruso would drive in another run in the sixth on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded and
Mike Becchetti would follow with a two run single to cap the scoring.
The Stags bullpen would relieve McLoughlin and retire the next seven batters before Vinny Chiarenza launched a home run with two outs in the ninth inning.
Jason Hebner went the longest out of the pen with 1.2 hitless frames, extending his season long streak to 7.1 hitless innings.
Handal would lead the Stags with three hits.
MAAC Championship Series: Rider 7, Fairfield 2
The Stags looked like they would carry that offensive momentum to the Championship series as they tallied nine baserunners in the first three innings.
However, the Stags could only find one big hit and it came in the first inning. Caruso, once again, opened the scoring with a RBI single to left center. He would advance to second on a wild pitch, but Rider's Joe Papeo was able to get the final batter to end the threat. The Stags would actually strand seven runners in the first three frames.
Fairfield would load the bases in back-to-back innings trying to put Rider out of the game early.
Charlie Pagliarini,
Sean Cullen, and
Ryan Strollo all singled in the second to load the bases with just one out, but Papeo walked the tightrope getting a strikeout and a fly ball to left.
The Stags started the third inning with an immediate threat as
Justin Guerrera led off the frame with a triple. After a strikeout, the Stags drew back-to-back walks to once again load the bases. Papeo got out of the jam again with a shallow fly ball to right and a grounder to second.
That was the momentum the Broncs needed and then they found the power. The Broncs, who entered their 39th game of the season with just 14 home runs, would crush five in just a three inning span, accounting for all seven of their runs.
Kyle Johnson tied the game in the third and then Rider would hit two homers in both the fourth and fifth innings.
The Stags offense could not fully respond as they tallied just four base runners over the final five innings.
Dan Ryan had two of those hits, including a solo homerun to put the Stags closer in the fourth.
Eight different Stags recorded at least one hit, with Pagliarini and Ryan each picking up a pair.
Bryson Cafaro came in relief and fired three innings, allowing just a solo home run. Freshman
Colin McVeigh impressed in the final two scoreless frames.
The appearance in the Championship Series was the second-straight for the Stags who also appeared in the final series in 2019.
The Stags will now await for hopefully another historic first in the 2021 season as they will see if their name is called during the NCAA Selection Show. The Stags have plenty of accomplishments for the committee to consider, including the highest winning percentage in NCAA Division I history at .925 with their 37-3 record. Included in that, was 28-straight wins to open the season and just one regular season loss.
Fairfield remained in the top-15 in every RPI poll throughout the season, while securing the number one spot for several weeks. In fact, there were only seven days where the Stags were outside the top-10 in the country in RPI.
The Stags also held statistically one of the best pitching staffs in the country as they led the NCAA in ERA, WHIP, shutouts, and fewest walks per nine innings.
If the Stags do hear their name called on Monday, they will be the first MAAC team ever to receive an at-large bid to the Regionals.
That would be yet another feat that the Stags could accomplish that no one thought was possible.
