POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Dean Ferrara led the Stags with five hits including the 200th of his career, but it was not enough as a pair of Fairfield University Baseball rallies fell short and the Stags were swept in a twin bill at Marist by final scores of 8-7 and 10-7. Ferrara becomes the 10th Stag all-time to reach 200 hits in a career. Fairfield also got home runs from Luke Nomura, JP Kuczik, and a two-out, game-tying long ball from Matthew Bucciero in the top of the ninth in the opener. The two losses clinches Fairfield's first MAAC series loss in 27 tries dating back to 2022.

Game One: Marist 8, Fairfield 7

The Stags had their first big rally of the afternoon by scoring six runs in the final two innings to erase a 7-1 deficit and tie the game in the ninth. However, the Red Foxes would strike for the game-winning run in the bottom half by loading the bases with nobody out before getting the walk-off single by AJ Brotz.

The Stags started their comeback with four runs in the top of the eighth. Luke Nomura had the first big hit with a two-run homer to put the score at 7-3. Matthew Bucciero and Tyler Kipp would draw walks and move into scoring position on a wild pitch. TJ Schmalzle would plate a run with a single and JP Kuczik capped the scoring in the frame with a RBI ground out.

Fairfield found more excitement in the top of the ninth as Bucciero clubbed a two-out, two-run game-tying homer over the center field wall to complete the comeback and put the score even at 7-7.

Marist would respond in the bottom half of the frame with a walk before back-to-back bunt singles. Brotz then came through with the game-winning hit.

Ferrara led the Stags with three hits, the 14th time this season he has tallied three or more hits in a game. Nomura added two hits including his 13th homer of the year.


Game Two: Marist 10, Fairfield 7

The Stags erased another deficit in the nightcap, scoring four runs in the fourth to comeback from a 4-0 hole and tie the game. Kuczik had the biggest knock with a three-run homer to left and Ferrara knotted the game with a RBI single, the 200th of his career.

Marist, however, would three unanswered runs to take a 7-4 advantage. Fairfield had another rally in them by plating a pair of runs in the seventh. Ferrara would score on an errant throw and Kipp would make it a one-run game with a sacrifice fly.

The Red Foxes would get those runs back with a pair of unearned runs in the seventh to complete the 10-7 final score. 

Fairfield will conclude their series with Marist tomorrow at 10am.