STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth and had the tying run on the on-deck circle, but the Stags could not complete the comeback as they fell 11-8 to Stony Brook in their final non-conference game of the season. TJ Schmalzle led the offense with three hits while Luke Nomura and Matthew Bucciero picked up a pair of base knocks.
 
Fairfield (33-11) fell behind eight runs as Stony Brook plated two runs in the first and six in the third. The Stags would respond with their own six-spot in the top half of the fourth to get right back into the game. Tyler Kipp and Nick Sturino would draw back-to-back one out walks and would both advance into scoring position on wild pitches.
 
Schmalzle brought home the first Fairfield run with an infield single and JP Kuczik lined the ball into left for a RBI hit. Nolan Colby would be hit by a pitch to load the bases and bringing up the top of the order. Dean Ferrara picked up his 80th hit of the season with a RBI single through the left side. Nomura followed with a two-run knock to left. Bucciero, who started the inning, lined a RBI double down the left field line to complete the six-run frame.
 
The Seawolves would score one in the sixth and two in the seventh to expand their lead to 11-6.
 
The Stags had one more rally in the ninth with Nomura and Bucciero leading off the frame with singles. Payten Wawruck would reach and Nomura would score on a fielding error to put runners on the corners. Matt Lussier plated Bucciero on a sacrifice fly to put the Stags down by three.
 
Fairfield would get no closer with Stony Brook getting the final two outs.
 
Schmalzle led the offense with a career-high three hits with Nomura and Bucciero also enjoying multi-hit games. Sturino reached base twice on a couple of walks, bringing his season total to 45 which is four shy of the program record.
 
Fairfield will now turn their attention to the conference slate starting with a road series against Marist starting on Friday at 3pm.