BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to turn a slim 4-3 lead into a comfortable 11-3 victory and complete the sweep at Canisius. Tyler Kipp provided the biggest swing of the decisive frame with a grand slam to complete his three-hit performance. With the win, the Stags complete their second sweep in just their third conference series of the year and improve their MAAC record to a league-best 8-1.
 
Fairfield (19-7; 8-1 MAAC) kept their thin 4-3 lead heading into the final inning after Kevin Kell came in with two on and two outs in the bottom of the eighth and forced a fielder's choice to get out of the frame and preserve the lead.
 
The Stags would quash any drama in the final inning by putting up a seven-spot in their final at-bats of the contest.
 
With one out, Luke Nomura and Sean Meth lined back-to-back singles in front of a Matthew Bucciero walk to load the bases. After a Canisius pitching change, Kipp provided the biggest blast of the afternoon by turning an 0-2 count into his first career grand slam and provide the Stags much needed breathing room. Fairfield would add three more insurance runs on a JP Kuczik RBI double and a Nolan Colby two-run double to put the score at 11-3.
 
Will Fox ran into a little trouble in the bottom half of the frame by loading the bases with one out but then got a strikeout and a fly out to clinch the sweep in Buffalo.
 
It took the Stags five complete innings to get on the scoreboard and would plate the first four runs of the game, all coming in the sixth inning. Nick Struino drove in the game's first run with a single through the right side which would be followed by a Kuczik sacrifice fly. Sturino would later score on a big blast from TJ Schmalzle, his fourth homer of the spring.
 
Canisius nearly took that complete lead away by cutting their deficit to 4-3 in the eighth with a two-out rally. The Golden Griffins had two on after a RBI single and a walk before Kell came in to get out of the threat.
 
Kyle Lesler picked up his third win of the season by tossing five shutout frames allowing just two hits and striking out five.
 
Kipp and Dean Ferrara led the offense with three hits apiece while Meth, Sturino, and Kuczik each tallied a multiple hit game.
 
Fairfield tallied 42 runs and reached double-digits in all three games of the series, the first time they have accomplished that feat since the final series of the 2023 season.
 
The Stags will hit the road for a midweek contest at Yale on Wednesday at 4pm before hosting crosstown rivals Sacred Heart in their first series as a conference opponent on the weekend.