WAPPINGER FALLS, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team will begin their title defense in the MAAC Championship Opening Round when they take on sixth-seeded Marist at Heritage Financial Park in Wappinger Falls, N.Y., on Wednesday at 11am. This will be Fairfield's 14th-straight appearance in the MAAC Tournament as they look for the first back-to-back MAAC title run in program history.
 
The Stags earned the three-seed in the tournament after going 20-10 in conference play, the third-straight campaign they have tallied 20 or more MAAC wins.
 
Fairfield has been led offensively by senior slugger Matthew Bucciero who led the league in homers (20), RBI (54), and slugging percentage (.735) through the regular season. For his success, he was named the MAAC Player of the Year and became the first MAAC baseball player to win the preseason and postseason player of the year awards since 2016.
 
Bucciero is having one of the most storied careers in MAAC baseball history, already setting the conference's RBI record and one shy of tying Dan Paolini's home run mark which was set in 2010.
 
On the mound, the Stags bolster both the MAAC Pitcher of the Year in Ben Alekson and the MAAC Rookie of the Year in Harrison Engle. Alekson posted the lowest ERA in the conference at 2.53, ranking in the top-50 in the nation. Through his first three seasons, Alekson has racked up 21 wins, one shy of the program's career mark.
 
Engle has gotten stronger in every appearance in his freshman season, tallying six-straight wins in the MAAC and holds a 0.94 ERA over his last five outings.
 
TJ Schmalzle was the other Stag to earn All-MAAC accolades as he was selected to the Second Team. Schmalzle is not only in the midst of the best offensive season of his career, but also the best defensive campaigns in program history. The centerfielder has tallied nine outfield assists, the most by a Stag since the 2017 season. He has also converted 194-straight chances without an error dating back to last season.
 
This year's MAAC Championships will be the final in the coaching career of Bill Currier who announced his retirement before the season. In 15 years with the Stags, he has recorded over 420 wins, six regular season titles, two MAAC Championships, and three NCAA Regional appearances. He has also mentored 67 All-MAAC student-athletes during his 15 seasons after the program had just 10 in the previous 30 seasons.
 
Overall, in his 37-year career Currier has amassed over 900 wins with six conference coach of the year awards.
 
Associate Head Coach Brian Fay will assume the role of head coach following the completion of the season.
 
The Stags won the regular season series against Marist two weeks ago at Don and Chris Cook Field. Nolan Colby had a hit in all three games including a homer in the opener. The Stags came back from a 4-0 deficit in the rubber game with Jake Haarde going 4-for-4.
 
If the Stags defeat Marist, they will take on second-seeded Niagara on Thursday at 3pm.