FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Baseball team will host the Iona Gaels in another pivotal MAAC series this weekend at Don and Chris Cook Field. The Stags enter the weekend in second place in the MAAC standings with a 13-5 league mark while the Gaels place fifth with a 10-7 conference record.
Currently, the series is scheduled to start on Friday at 3pm with single games on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm.
Fairfield swept Mount St. Mary's in their last conference series to give them their second-place position. Along with the sweep, a pair of Stags were honored with MAAC weekly honors as
Matthew Bucciero was awarded the MAAC Player of the Week accolade while
Harrison Engle earned his first-ever MAAC Rookie of the Week honor.
Bucciero slugged four home runs last week while recording a .571 batting average and a .667 on-base percentage. Bucciero increased his program record to 50 home runs and became the first Stag to ever reach 200 career RBI. This season, Bucciero leads the MAAC with 15 long balls which is in the top-40 in Division I.
Engle tossed 5.2 shutout innings in the finale over the Mount surrendering two hits and striking out six.
Junior reliever
Ryan Maiorano picked up a pair of saves in the sweep to bring his season total to eight. He is already two saves shy of tying the single-season Fairfield record. For the year, he ranks second in the MAAC and 13th in the nation with his eight saves. This week, he was added to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year given to the best closer in Division I.
Iona brings a 10-7 record into the series after winning five-straight conference games with a sweep over Saint Peter's. Malachi Costello is the team's leading hitter with a .312 average with three homers and 21 RBI. He is one of four players to hit over .300 and eight with an average more than .270.
Currently, the series is scheduled to start on Friday at 3pm with single games on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm.
The Stags will close out their home stand with a midweek game against Stony Brook on Tuesday at 3:30pm.
