TROY, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team dropped their MAAC opener 6-5 in extra innings to Siena while the second game of the series was suspended due to darkness and will be restarted at 11:30am tomorrow. The Stags were leading 6-3 going into the eighth inning of the second game.
 
The Stags led 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth in game one, before Vincent Venditti hit a game-tying solo shot to lead off the frame.
 
Fairfield would get a runner into scoring position in the tenth with a TJ Schmalzle one-out double but failed to score.
 
Siena would end the game with a one-out RBI single by Jake Sparks for the 6-5 final.
 
The Stags plated the first two runs of the game on a Zach Stephenson two-run double in the fourth. They added two more in the next frame on a Jake Haarde double to left which scored Connor Scanlan and JP Kuczik.
 
Fairfield would increase their lead to 5-3 in the eighth when Luke Nomura drew a bases loaded walk to bring in Stephenson.
 
The Stags had another threat in the ninth with a Haarde double and a Kuczik walk, but the Saints would end the threat with back-to-back strikeouts.
 
Ben Alekson threw the first six innings allowing three runs – two earned – while striking out five. In his first four starts, Alekson is pitching to a 0.82 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP.
 
Harrison Engle struck out six batters in 2.2 frames.
 
On the offensive side, Kuczik reached base four times with three walks. Haarde had a pair of doubles while Matthew Bucciero also had a multi-hit game including a double.
 
The Stags and the Saints will play their suspended game two of the series at 11:30am tomorrow with the Stags leading 6-3 in the top of the eighth.