Rider University Captures 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship

Rider University Captures 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship

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No. 1 Fairfield University - 2  |  No. 3 Rider University - 7
2021 MAAC Baseball Championship Round - Game 6
Alumni Diamond | Fairfield, CT
 
Rider University (23-16, 18-16 MAAC) clinched the 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship on Friday after defeating top-seeded Fairfield University (37-3, 34-1 MAAC) in Game 6 of the championship round. After Fairfield took an early one-run lead off a Mike Caruso single, the Broncs would unload on offense by launching five home runs in a three-inning span to drive in all seven of their runs. Cal Stalzer would close out the game, and the MAAC Championship, for Rider by pitching four shutout innings, allowing only two hits and striking out three batters.
 
Rider and Fairfield now wait to learn what’s next in their respective postseason journeys with the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament Selection Show on Monday, May 31 at 12 p.m. The show will be broadcast on ESPN2.
 
Fairfield Notes
  • This is the second consecutive season that Fairfield has reached the championship series of the MAAC Baseball Championship.
  • Dan Ryan would connect for a solo home run in the fourth inning, the only home run of the game for Fairfield.
  • Justin Guerrera hit the game’s only triple in the third inning.
  • Eight Fairfield batters would record at least one hit. Ryan and Charlie Pagliarini tied for the team lead with two hits each.  
 
Rider Notes
  • With the victory, Rider claims their third MAAC Baseball Championship in program history, and their first since 2010.
  • Over their five games in the MAAC Baseball Championship, Rider outscored their opponents by a combined total of 40-20.
  • Each of Rider’s five home runs was hit by a different player: Socrates Bardatsos, Kyle Johnson, Sean McGeehan, Lou Priolo, and Brian Skettini. McGeehan and Bardatsos went back-to-back in the fifth inning to finish off the scoring for Rider.
  • Stalzer recorded his sixth save of the season for Rider.
  • Priolo and Skettini would both lead the Broncs in RBI, tallying two each.
  • Jake Barbiere and David Bermudez both finished the afternoon with two hits each, leading the team.
  • All nine starters for the Broncs reached base safely at least once during the game.
 
No. 1 Fairfield University - 8  |  No. 4 Canisius College - 2
2021 MAAC Baseball Championship Round - Game 5
Alumni Diamond | Fairfield, CT
 
In the first game of the day, Fairfield’s Trey McLoughlin struck out 11 batters and surrendered one run over the course of 6 1/3 innings of work to help the Stags (37-2, 34-1 MAAC) avoid elimination for the second straight game and defeat Canisius College (20-16, 17-13 MAAC) to advance to the championship series against Rider. Fairfield struck first, plating a run in each of the first two innings. Canisius broke through the Fairfield defense in the fifth, scoring a run on sacrifice fly by Mike Mazzara. Fairfield responded with a pair of runs in the bottom-half of the inning before tallying three runs in the sixth. A solo home run by Mike Steffan in the ninth frame would be the final run for Canisius.
 
Fairfield Notes
  • With their 37th victory, Fairfield has set new program record for total wins in a season.
  • Two Stags registered a multi-hit game. Mike Handal went 3-of-5 at the plate, scoring two runs, and registering a RBI. Mike Caruso went 2-of-4, scoring a run, and adding two RBI.
  • Charlie Pagliarini and Ryan Strollo each hit a double in the win.
 
Canisius Notes
  • Max Grant was the only Canisius player to record a multi-hit game. He went 2-of-3 and scored a run.
  • Steffan launched a solo homerun in the ninth inning, his third home run of the season.
  • In 2 2/3 innings of relief, Joe Barberio struck out a team-high four batters.
 
Following the conclusion of the championship round, Rider’s Jordan Erbe was named the MAAC Baseball Championship’s Most Valuable Player. Additionally, the MAAC announced the complete 2021 MAAC Baseball All-Championship Team. The full list can be found below:
 
Name School
Matt Duffy Canisius
Max Grant Canisius
Mike Caruso Fairfield
Trey McLoughlin Fairfield
Jake Noviello Fairfield
Dixon Black Monmouth
Trey Dombroski Monmouth
Jake Barbiere Rider
Sean McGeehan Rider
Brian Skettini Rider
Cal Stalzer Rider
MAAC Championship MVP Jordan Erbe, Rider University

For more information on the 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship, visit MAACSports.com/baseball.

About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.