Box Score WAPPINGER FALLS, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Baseball team used a nine-run eighth inning to force a winner-take-all final game in the MAAC Championship, but fell in that final game by a 6-1 final score. The Stags rallied earlier in the day to grab a 12-7 exciting victory to set up the finale. With the setback, Fairfield ends their 2026 season with 31 wins and a spot in the MAAC Championship series for the fourth-straight season.
 
"You can't ask anything more out of our players than they gave in this tournament," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "With pitchers going out there multiple times, we even ended up with a catcher out there so everyone gave it a roll. We just fell short but you have to give them credit. They battled the whole time and did everything they possibly could."
 
 
Game One: Fairfield 12; Rider 7
 
The Stags plated nine runs on just two hits to turn an eighth inning 6-3 deficit into a 12-6 lead. Fairfield needed just three hits in the decisive inning while drawing seven walks and getting 15 men to the plate.
 
Matthew Bucciero had the first of three bases loaded walks in the frame to put the score at 6-4. JP Kuczik continued his hot-hitting with a two-run game-tying double over the third baseman's head to knot the game at 6-6. Luke Nomura and Nolan Colby forced in a run and Payten Wawruck brought in another with a hit by pitch. Zach Stephenson had the biggest hit with a bases clearing double to cap the scoring and put the score at 12-6.
 
Rider would add a run in the eighth but Ryan Maiorano finished up the game with a scoreless ninth to finish the game at 12-7.
 
The Stags started the game by plating two in the opening inning with a TJ Schmalzle sacrifice fly and a Nomura RBI double.
 
Hunter Hoxie picked up the win with four innings allowing two runs on three hits.
 
 
Game Two: Rider 6; Fairfield 1
 
The eighth inning heroics forced a decisive winner take all championship. The final game was highlighted by Rider's PJ Craig who left the Stags scoreless through seven innings after throwing a complete game on Thursday.
 
Stephenson and Bucciero picked up the only two hits against Craig in his seven innings.
 
The Stags put the first two runners on in the eighth with Nomura and Wawruck drawing back-to-back walks. They would both reach scoring position but Rider ended the inning with a strikeout to stop the threat.
 
Dom Camera would get the final two outs with a strikeout in his collegiate pitching debut.
 
Kuczik, Ben Alekson, and Stephenson were all named to the All-Championship Team after helping the Stags to their fourth-straight appearance in the MAAC Championship Series.
 
The Stags finish their 2026 season with 31 wins, the sixth-straight season they have reached the 30-win plateau. It also finished the 37-year head coaching career of Bill Currier who recorded 920 wins with 428 coming in his 15 years at Fairfield.