LEWISTON, N.Y. – In his first career conference start, Fairfield University Baseball freshman right-hander Ben Alekson shut down one of the best offenses in the MAAC with seven shutout innings as the Stags cliched the series win with a 6-0 victory over Niagara. Alekson struck out a career-high eight batters in seven shutout innings allowing just two hits.
 
With the win, the Stags improve their MAAC record to 18-2 and is their ninth-straight victory, tying for the second-longest streak in the nation.
 
"It was a great spot start for Ben as he was able to throw three pitches for strikes and get ahead in counts," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "It was a tough day to hit with wind blowing in but hitters found a way to pinch across runs and play defense."
 
Alekson retired 10-straight batters after hitting the leadoff batter with a two-strike pitch. He would give up only an infield single in the fourth and a leadoff single in the fifth to a team hitting .305 which is now second in the conference.
 
He struck out eight with only one walk and limiting himself to 93 pitches. Peter Phillips would come in relief and first two scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts to clinch the Stags' 19th-straight series victory dating back to April 2022.
 
On the offensive side, the Stags scratched across their first pair of runs in the fifth without recording a hit. Matt Bucciero struck out by reached first base on a wild pitch and would later steal second. Zach Selinger and Nick Sturino walked to load the bases. Paul Catalano worked out a bases loaded walk to plate the game's first run. A couple of pitches later, the Stags would double that lead as Selinger scooted home on a passed ball.
 
Fairfield took advantage of an error in the seventh to get Selinger to third and Tyler Kipp would drive him home on a sacrifice fly.
 
Kipp would have another RBI in the ninth with a run scoring single before JP Kuczik capped the scoring with a pinch hit two-out, two-run single to put the score at 6-0.
 
Selinger led the Stags offensively with a pair of hits and three runs scored. Alekson lowered his ERA to 3.63.
 
The Stags will look for the sweep of Niagara and clinch the MAAC Regular Season Championship tomorrow at noon.