LEWISTON, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team scored all nine of their runs in a three-inning span and the pitching duo of Colin McVeigh and Peter Ostensen secured the lead as the Stags took a 9-3 series opening victory at Niagara to move into first-place in the MAAC standings. On the offensive front, Nick Sturino and Luke Nomura both homered which brings the team's total to 79 long balls this season.
 
"McVeigh and Ostensen combined to keep hitters off balance especially in run-scoring opportunities," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "Our hitters did a good job of staying in the zone and not chasing after getting to their starter"
 
Sturino provided the first big blast for the Stags (28-20, 17-2 MAAC) with a three-run go-ahead homer in the top of the second. Fairfield would add to that momentum by putting up a five-spot in the third. The Stags would load the bases on a Dean Ferrara single, a Nomura ground-rule double, and a Matt Bergevin walk. Fairfield would then draw three-straight bases loaded walks to force in three more runs.
 
Ethan Hibbard, Matt Bucciero, and Zach Selinger all drove in a run with a free pass. After Niagara went into their bullpen, Sturino added a RBI single and Tyler Kipp brought in a run with a ground out.
 
Fairfield would cap their scoring with a Nomura solo shot, his tenth of the season.
 
After 5.2 solid innings by McVeigh, Ostensen came in a bases loaded jam with two outs in the sixth, but hot his hitter to strikeout to end the frame.
 
He would close the game for the final three innings to earn his second save of the season.
 
Sturino led the Stags with four RBI and was one of three Stags with multiple hits joining Nomura and Bucciero.
 
The win puts Fairfield's conference record at 17-2, one game ahead of Niagara and three games ahead of third place Rider. Fairfield has also won a season-high eight-straight contests.
 
The two teams will play in the middle game tomorrow at 1pm.