WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY (May 19, 2026) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) today announced the 2026 Baseball Major Award winners and All-MAAC Teams, voted on by the league’s 13 head coaches.
Fairfield University headlined major award winners, claiming three out of the five awards, which included Player of the Year Matt Bucciero, Pitcher of the Year Ben Alekson, and Rookie of the Year Harrison Engle. Relief Pitcher of the Year went to Niagara University’s Andrew Damiani and Coach of the Year was awarded to Merrimack College’s Brian Murphy.
Bucciero, the MAAC Player of the Year, was the only unanimous player named to the All-MAAC First Team, making the lineup in the outfield, and earning his third career placement on the all-conference squad. The senior appeared and started in 47 games for the Stags this season and he was the league leader in home runs (20), home runs per game (.43), RBIs (54), RBIs per game (1154), slugging percentage (.735), and total bases (136). Nationally, Bucciero was 14
th in home runs average, 17
th in total home runs, and 25
th in slugging percentage. He also ranked fifth in the conference in runs per game (1.09). A native of Ridgefield, CT, Bucciero had a .335 batting average, 51 runs, an OPS of 1.196, an OBS of .461, and 16 stolen bases. In the field, he logged 135 putouts and held a .979 fielding percentage.
Junior right-handed pitcher, Alekson, was named the MAAC Pitcher of the Year and voted to the All-MAAC First Team for the second straight year. The Stowe, VT local made 14 starts on the mound in 2026 for Fairfield, recording an overall record of 6-4 and a MAAC record of 6-2 in 10 league starts. In 78.1 innings of work this season, Alekson struck out 61 batters, had an ERA of 2.53, a WHIP of 1.24, and an opponent batting average of .233. He was the MAAC leader in earned run average and games started and was tied for fifth in victories. Additionally, Alekson was 11
th in the NCAA in starts and 27
th in ERA.
The MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year honoree was Damiani from Niagara. A righty, Damiani made 26 appearances out of the bullpen in 2026, earning 11 saves. His 11 saves were the most in the MAAC and eighth in the country, while his 26 trips on the mound were the second-most in the conference. Originating from Williamsville, NY, the senior pitched a total of 45.0 innings, posting a 5-4 record. Damiani’s statline included an ERA of 2.60, a WHIP of .98, 50 strikeouts, and an opponent batting average of .173.
Engle, a right-handed pitcher for Fairfield, was picked as the MAAC Rookie of the Year. Hailing from Avon, CT, Engle made 18 pitching appearances, with nine starts and nine in relief during his first season as a Stag. He recorded a 6-2 record and picked up one save after tossing 57.0 innings. Engle struck out 58 hitters, had an ERA of 4.11, a WHIP of 1.46, and an opponent batting average of .202. On the MAAC charts, he led the conference in hits allowed per nine innings (6.63) and was tied for fifth in wins.
Merrimack head coach Brian Murphy was voted amongst his peers as the MAAC Coach of the Year. Murphy led Merrimack to a 20-10 (.667) MAAC record in 2026 and the team’s first postseason berth in the MAAC. The Warriors made the biggest jump in the league this season, going +9 in conference play after an 11-19 finish in 2025, and finishing as the No. 4 seed after being picked 12
th in the preseason poll. Murphy’s team is currently one of the hottest in the conference, entering postseason action on a 10-game winning streak against MAAC opponents with three consecutive series sweeps.
The full list of major award winners and All-MAAC Teams are below.
| 2026 Baseball Major Awards |
| Awards |
Player |
School |
| Player of the Year |
Matt Bucciero |
Fairfield |
| Pitcher of the Year |
Ben Alekson |
Fairfield |
| Relief Pitcher of the Year |
Andrew Damiani |
Niagara |
| Rookie of the Year |
Harrison Engle |
Fairfield |
| Coach of the Year |
Brian Murphy |
Merrimack |
| All-MAAC First Team |
| Player |
Class |
Position |
School |
| Nick Shuhet |
Jr. |
Catcher |
Rider |
| Charley Magoulick |
So. |
First Base |
Rider |
| Matt DeShiro |
So. |
Second Base |
Merrimack |
| Rees Kozar |
Jr. |
Third Base |
Niagara |
| Jacob Brooks |
Sr. |
Shortstop |
Niagara |
| Matt Bucciero* |
Sr. |
Outfield |
Fairfield |
| Joe Frammartino |
Gr. |
Outfield |
Merrimack |
| Kyle Neri |
R-Jr. |
Outfield |
Rider |
| Felix Morin |
Sr. |
Pitcher |
Canisius |
| Ben Alekson |
Jr. |
Pitcher |
Fairfield |
| PJ Craig |
Sr. |
Pitcher |
Rider |
| Bennett Cox |
R-Fr. |
Designated Hitter |
Canisius |
| Thomas Zwirecki |
R-Jr. |
Utility |
Canisius |
| Alex Mendes |
Sr. |
Utility |
Mount St. Mary's |
| All-MAAC Second Team |
| Player |
Class |
Position |
School |
| Andreaus Lewis |
Gr. |
Catcher |
Manhattan |
| Greg Cristino |
Sr. |
First Base |
Merrimack |
| Nick Bergamotto |
Sr. |
Second Base |
Siena |
| Ty Fredo |
Jr. |
Third Base |
Mount St. Mary's |
| Alex Irizarry |
Sr. |
Shortstop |
Quinnipiac |
| Tj Schmalzle |
Sr. |
Outfield |
Fairfield |
| Erich Hartmann |
Sr. |
Outfield |
Rider |
| Peter Link |
Jr. |
Outfield |
Sacred Heart |
| Serigne Sarre |
So. |
Pitcher |
Mount St. Mary's |
| Andrew Rubayo |
Sr. |
Pitcher |
Quinnipiac |
| Christian Aiello |
Sr. |
Pitcher |
Rider |
| Hunter Sute |
R-Sr. |
Designated Hitter |
Manhattan |
| AJ Brotz |
Sr. |
Utility |
Marist |
| MAAC All-Rookie Team |
| Player |
Class |
Position |
School |
| Harrison Engle |
Fr. |
Pitcher |
Fairfield |
| Malachi Costello |
R-Fr. |
Outfield |
Iona |
| Luke Lang |
Fr. |
Pitcher |
Iona |
| TJ Baer |
Fr. |
Outfield |
Marist |
| Garrett McGovern |
Fr. |
Catcher |
Merrimack |
| Phoenix Williams |
Fr. |
Utility |
Mount St. Mary's |
| Nick Cote |
Fr. |
Infield |
Niagara |
| Chase Camac |
FY. |
Outfield |
Quinnipiac |
| Jacob Belecky |
FY. |
Pitcher |
Quinnipiac |
| Caden Williamson |
FY. |
Outfield |
Quinnipiac |
| Will Rudolph |
FY. |
Outfield |
Sacred Heart |
| Steve Polizzi |
R-Fr. |
Catcher |
Saint Peter's |
*Denotes Unanimous Selection
The 2026 MAAC Baseball Championship is a six-team double elimination championship that will take place at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls, NY on May 20-23, 2026. This will be the 14th time that the championship is hosted at the ballpark (previously named Dutchess Stadium), the most in MAAC history. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Baseball Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/baseball.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on
X,
Facebook,
Instagram and LinkedIn or visit
MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.