Box Score LEWISTON, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team scored six runs in the top of the eighth to take a 10-9 lead, but Niagara responded with three more in their half to salvage the series with a 12-10 decision over the Stags. Eight different Stags collected hits in the contest including six in the six run eighth. The setback snaps Fairfield's winning streak at nine-straight which was tied for second in the country.
The Stags (29-21; 18-3 MAAC) scored the first four runs of the game highlighted by a three-run shot by
Tyler Kipp, his second of the season and the team's 80th.
Niagara would plate nine unanswered runs including six in the third to grab a 9-4 lead.
Facing the MAAC's saves leader and top relief pitcher, Zach Cameron, the Stags would collect four hits while plating six runs and regaining the lead.
Dean Ferrara and
Luke Nomura started the rally with back-to-back RBI singles to put the score at 9-6.
Matt Bucciero would follow with a RBI ground out to inch Fairfield closer at 9-7.
Ethan Hibbard would tie the game with a two-strike, two-run single to center, knotting the score at 9-9.
Nick Sturino would cap the inning with a clutch two-out RBI single to right to regain the lead at 10-9.
That lead would be short lived as Niagara answered with three runs in their half of the eighth. Vincent Mauro had the biggest hit with a go-ahead two-run double off the infielder's glove into left.
Eight different Stags picked up hits in the contest with five student-athletes tallying multiple base hits. Ferrara led the way with three singles, bringing his season total to 84, tying for the second-most in a single season in program history. Nine different Stags scored a run, led by Kipp who crossed the plate twice, while leading the squad with three RBI.
Chris DiFiore led a quartet of Fairfield pitchers with 3.1 innings surrendering just one run.
Despite the loss, the Stags stay in first place in the MAAC with an 18-3 mark and extended their streak to 19-straight in the conference. Fairfield's nine-game winning streak ends which was tied for the second-longest in the country.
The Stags will start their last week of the regular season starting with their final midweek game at St. John's on Tuesday at 2pm. Fairfield will conclude the regular season and look for their fourth-straight regular season championship and number one seed in the tournament with a three-game series against Quinnipiac at home starting on Thursday at 3pm.
