FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Baseball team will return home to Don and Chris Cook Field for a three-game conference series against Manhattan starting on Friday at 1:30pm. The middle game of the series will be on Saturday with the finale on Sunday with both games have a 1pm first pitch.
 
The Stags recently finished a 12-game road trip to start their 2026 season with two-straight victories. In their last time out, Fairfield rallied in the seventh to beat St. John's on the road with five different pitchers combining for scoreless relief.
 
Right-hander Ben Alekson will begin the series after winning two MAAC Pitcher of the Week awards during the first month of the campaign. Alekson was also named to the National Pitcher of the Year Watch List and hasn't allowed an earned run over his first four starts with 22.0 innings pitched.
 
On the offensive side, TJ Schmalzle leads the Stags with 15 hits and a .510 slugging percentage. Matthew Bucciero is the team leader with a .421 on-base percentage which features eight walks – four coming in their last contest against the Red Storm.
 
Manhattan will bring a 6-8 overall record and an 1-2 conference mark into the series. Justin Best is the team leader with a .367 batting average. Vincent Samuel leads the squad with three homers and 17 RBI.
 
The Stags will continue their five-game home stand with two midweek games starting with a Tuesday contest against NJIT at 3pm.