FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Matt Bergevin launched a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, sending the Fairfield University Baseball team to Pomona, N.Y., with all the momentum after completing the sweep of Iona with a 16-5 final score. The Stags will enter the upcoming MAAC Championships as the top-seed after clinching their third-straight MAAC Regular Season title, the first program in conference history to win three-straight regular season championships outright.
"It was a good job by the offense in breaking out the barrels and scoring some runs early," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "
Colin McVeigh did a good job getting through six innings on a low pitch count. Bergevin certainly had the big hit at the end but we had a lot of key hits in the middle of the game and had some guys come off the bench and get some hits. We are pretty proud of the game today."
The Fairfield Baseball Class of 2023 was honored before the game as the program recognized one of the most accomplished classes in school history. On their Senior Day, they stepped up at the plate as the seniors combined for 10 hits, eight runs scored, 10 RBI, and three home runs.
Ethan Hibbard was the first Stag senior to make his presence felt as he launched a two-run homer in the second inning, his fifth-straight game with a home run. He would also go deep with a solo shot in the third and nearly missed his third homer of the game as his fly ball was caught just a few feet in front of the center field wall.
Over the last five games, Hibbard has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the conference, batting .667 (10-for-15) with 14 runs scored, 13 RBI, and six home runs.
Also celebrating his senior day,
Mike Becchetti drove in three runs, bringing his career total to 109. He lined a two-run double in the third and added a RBI single in the fifth.
In what could be his final game at Alumni Diamond,
Charlie Pagliarini continued his torrid season with two hits including a two RBI double in the sixth. Pagliarini has now driven in 86 RBI this season and 132 in his career, putting him in the top-5 all-time at Fairfield.
AJ Donofrio also showed his power in front of his family during his senior day, blasting his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the third.
The biggest blast came off the bat of Bergevin as he crushed a no-doubt three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, allowing the Stags to walk-off on the 10-run rule.
Fairfield has now hit 88 home runs this season, just two shy of tying Canisius' 90 set in 2009 as the most ever by a MAAC team. Their 484 runs scored also sets Fairfield's single season record and is the third most ever by a MAAC squad.
It was also the 24th time this season the Stags have scored double-digits in runs.
McVeigh would cruise with the big run lead as he fired six innings allowing just two hits and one run while striking out four on 74 pitches. He improves his record to an unblemished 8-0.
It is the third-straight regular season championship for the Stags and the sixth in program history. The Stags also set a program record with 34 wins in the regular season.
Fairfield will now head to Pomona, N.Y., for the 2023 MAAC Championships as the top-seed. Fairfield will play their first game in the tournament on Thursday at 11am against the lowest remaining seed.
