Fairfield Advances to First Championship Series since 2000 with Win over Canisius
MAAC Sports
FISHKILL, NY – Top-seeded Fairfield defeated No.4 Canisius, 8-5, in game 7 of the 2016 MAAC Baseball Championship and advances to the championship series tomorrow at noon. Canisius moves into the loser’s bracket and will take on the winner of No. 2 Siena and No. 6 Manhattan tonight at 7:00pm.
Fairfield leadoff hitter Drew Arciuolo, got things going early for the Stags, scoring the first run of the game after his leadoff triple. Fairfield added two more runs with Jake Salpietro and Kevin Radziewicz being walked into home, giving Fairfield a 3-0 advantage.
In the top half of the second, Canisius cut its deficit to one run, picking up two runs from a Tim Kensinger RBI single. The bottom half of the inning would see Fairfield continue its scoring, when Arciuolo sent a ball well over the left field fence for a solo home run, making the score 4-2.
With a 5-2 score, Canisius added two runs in the fourth inning and one in the sixth to knot the game at 5-5.
Salpietro’s solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, over left center, would give Fairfield the lead again at 6-5 and two more walked in runs in the bottom of the eighth extended the Stags lead to 8-5 moving them into the championship series for the first time since 2000.
Fairfield is seeking its first MAAC title since 1993 and making its third overall appearance in the championship series.
The 2016 MAAC Baseball Championship is a double-elimination style tournament. The championship game takes place on Saturday, May 28 at noon with the, if necessary game taking place at 3:30 p.m.
The winner of the 2016 MAAC Baseball Championship will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. The NCAA Baseball Selection Show will be on Monday, May 30 on ESPNU at noon.
For all up to date information on the 2016 MAAC Baseball Championship, visit maacsports.com/baseball