WAPPINGER FALLS, N.Y. – Junior right-hander
Ben Alekson went the distance with his first career complete game leading the Fairfield University Baseball team to a 6-3 victory over Marist in the first game of the MAAC Championships. With the win, Alekson posted his 22nd career victory, tying John Signore for the most in Fairfield history.
JP Kuczik led the offense with two hits and three RBI. The Stags will now take on second-seeded Niagara on Thursday at 3pm.
"Ben gutted it up and even though he's probably throwing low 80s at the end he was mixing three speeds and throwing strikes," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "We had some clutch hits by some hitters especially in the first half of the game."
Alekson, the MAAC Pitcher of the Year, surrendered three runs – two earned – on seven hits and just one walk in his nine innings. He entered the tournament posting the lowest ERA in the conference which ranked in the top-50 in the country.
Offensively, Kuczik accounted for the first three Fairfield runs highlighted by a line drive opposite field single in the bottom of the first which plated a pair. He put the score at 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to center in the third.
Ryan Paine added a run in the bottom of the fourth with a double to the right center field gap that scored
Zach Stephenson and put the score at 4-1. He would later score on a
TJ Schmalzle sac fly.
Stephenson capped the scoring with a RBI double to right that gave the Stags a run back in the seventh.
The Stags will now advance to the next day of the MAAC Championships, taking on second-seeded Niagara on Thursday at 3pm.
