BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team put up a nine-spot in the first inning and eventually doubled that number leading to an 18-1 rout of Canisius in the series opener. Six different Stags tallied multiple hits led by three from JP Kuczik. Matthew Bucciero scored five times including on a solo homer while Luke Nomura capped the nine-run first with a grand slam.
 
"We hit well in many hitters counts," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "We stayed in the zone and were disciplined, which made this happen. We got Ben out of the game on a low pitch count after developing a good lead by the sixth."
 
The Stags (17-7; 6-1 MAAC) scored the first two runs without tallying a hit as Dean Ferrara and Nomura who led off the game with walks would score on a wild pitch and sacrifice fly, respectively. Kuczik and TJ Schmalzle would have the first two run-scoring hits with back-to-back RBI singles to put the score at 4-0. Nolan Colby and Ferrara would walk to add a run and load the bases for Nomura who capped the frame with a grand slam over the left center field wall.
 
Tyler Kipp would put the Stags in double-digits with a RBI double in the second and Bucciero crushed a solo homer in the fourth, his fourth of the season.
 
Fairfield added four more runs in the sixth on a Nick Sturino RBI single, a Schmalzle two-run double, and a Colby run-scoring single.
 
The Stags would close their scoring in the ninth courtesy of the first collegiate RBI from Dominic Gabardi who launched a ground-rule double and a run-scoring groundout by Jack Byrne. Kuczik would cap his three-hit day with a single to score Gabardi and put the score at 18-1.
 
On the pitching side, Ben Alekson cruised for his fourth win of the year, tossing six innings allowing one run and striking out six. He started the day by striking out the side in the first.
 
Matt Kalfas and Jimmy Mulvaney would close out the final three scoreless innings.
 
The 18 runs are the most scored by the Stags this season and the ninth time they have reached double-digits in runs. Bucciero's five runs scored are tied for the second-most ever scored in a game for the Stags. Colby reached base four times on two hits and two walks.
 
With the inclement weather in the forecast, the two teams decided to play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 3pm. Fairfield will be looking for their 22nd-straight conference series win.