WAPPINGER FALLS, N.Y. – Matthew Bucciero hit the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the seventh and
Will Youngman to lead the Fairfield University Baseball team to a 4-3 win over Niagara and advance to the winner's bracket final. The Stags will now take on top-seeded Rider on Friday at 11am with a spot in the Championship Series at stake.
"First of all Harry (Engle) did a good job keeping us in a close game and getting us through six," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "For a freshman to do that certainly shows the confidence and maturity. Youngman came in and certainly threw some quality, low strikes and got some ground balls."
Bucciero had the biggest hit of the game as he broke a tie 3-3 score in the top of the seventh with a two-out, RBI single.
TJ Schmalzle started the game-deciding rally by drawing a walk and then stealing second to set up Bucciero's heroics.
"He certainly kept the barrel in the zone long enough to punch it through the infield for the go-ahead run," Coach Currier said. "As I said, you should never want to go get a hotdog when he's at the plate because he could have a big hit for the team."
Youngman made that slim lead hold up by getting the biggest eight outs of his career, holding Niagara scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings. He got big strikeouts to end each frame, setting up a one-run ninth inning.
After getting the first two outs, Niagara threatened by getting a pair of runners on.
Jimmy Mulvaney was called in to get the final big out and induced a ground ball to end the game and send the Stags to the winners bracket finals for the third time in the last four seasons.
The Stags scored the first three runs of the game with
Luke Nomura opening up the scoring with a RBI double in the second. Fairfield would score in three-straight innings with a
JP Kuczik sacrifice fly in the third and
Zach Stephenson homering on the first pitch of the fourth.
Engle picked up his seventh-straight win by going six strong innings allowing three runs, none earned, all in the sixth.
Fairfield will now face Rider in the winners' bracket finals for the third time in the last four seasons. The two teams will play for a spot in the Championship Series on Friday at 11am.
