WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY (May 22, 2026) – The 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Baseball Championship resumed on Thursday, May 21 at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls with three games and the field’s last four teams solidified. No. 1 Rider University and No. 3 Fairfield University advanced in the winner’s bracket and will meet at 11:00 am on Friday morning for a spot in the Championship Series, while No. 6 Marist University won its second straight elimination bracket game of the postseason to keep its championship hopes alive. The Red Foxes will meet No. 2 Niagara University in the elimination bracket on Friday at 3:00 pm.
No. 1 Rider – 8 | No. 4 Merrimack – 2
Heritage Financial Park | WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY
Box Score
No. 1 Rider used a seven run, seventh inning, and stout pitching to capture an 8-2 comeback win against No. 4 Merrimack in the first game of the day. Rider scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first inning, but a quick response by Merrimack in the top of the second behind back-to-back solo jacks, gave the Warriors an early lead. Down 1-0, Greg Cristino swung at the first pitch and lifted it over the left field wall for a game-tying home run. The very next batter, Jayden Hamilton, swung on an 0-1 pitch and launched a rocket over the left field fence to put Merrimack ahead 2-1. Despite giving up home runs against consecutive hitters, Rider starting pitcher PJ Craig kept his composure and retired the next three straight batters to limit the damage. Over the final seven innings, Craig would remain in the game and pitch 7.0 shutout innings, only surrendering three total base runners, and producing 1-2-3 innings from the fifth through the ninth innings, for a complete game win. Still trailing 2-1 in the seventh, Rider switched up its tactics to small ball, which paid huge dividends as the Broncs went on a seven run rally behind eight hits – seven of which were singles – leading to one run at a time on five of the tallies. The lone multi-base hit during the stretch came from Kyle Neri, who hit a two RBI double to right center, which sent home Will Gallagher and Matt Leahy.
Rider Notes and Notables
- Craig (8-3) pitched all 9.0 innings, going the distance for the second time this season.
- He struck out six, while only giving up three hits and two walks, with the two homers serving as the only runs he gave up.
- All nine starters for the Broncs had at least one hit as the team combined for 12 total hits.
- Gallagher was 3-for-4, scoring two runs and batting in one run, while stealing one base.
- Nick Shuet went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run.
- Neri and Anthony Paskell both led the lineup with two RBIs and a double apiece.
- The trio of Erich Hartmann, Eliot Medlock, and Peter Crespo each accounted for one RBI and one run.
Merrimack Notes and Notables
- Cristino and Hamilton each homered and were responsible for both of Merrimack’s runs and RBIs.
- In addition to the two home run hitters, Chris Goode (1-for-3) was the only other Warrior to pick up a hit in the setback, and he had a stolen base as well.
- Hamilton was the lone player for Merrimack to get on base more than once additionally, also reaching base via a walk.
- Starting right-handed pitcher Nick Hunkele (2-5) had a solid outing, tossing 6.0 innings, with two strikeouts, six hits and three earned runs.
- Merrimack fell into the elimination bracket with the defeat.
No. 3 Fairfield – 4 | No. 2 Niagara – 3
Heritage Financial Park | WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY
Box Score
No. 3 Fairfield edged No. 2 Niagara 4-3 in the second game of the day, keeping the defending champions in the winner’s bracket. The Stags scored one run in three straight innings from the second through fourth, to jump ahead 3-0, highlighted by a solo homer in the top of the fourth by Zach Stevenson to cap off the rally. Niagara answered in the bottom half of the fourth, scoring all three of its runs in the inning. Curtis McKay advanced home following a wild pitch that got passed the catcher to end the shutout. With two outs and one on, Jason Green hit an RBI double to center field to cut the game to 3-2. Nick Cote’s single to right field, produced the game-tying run when Green crossed home plate. In the top half of the seventh, MAAC Player of the Year Matt Bucciero, who had been hitless in the tournament up to that point, stepped to the plate with two down and one on and squeezed a single through the left side, bringing TJ Schmalzle home for the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run. Over the final three innings, the Stags would only allow four baserunners but kept each from reaching home.
Fairfield Notes and Notables
- Stephenson and Schmalzle combined to score all four runs, with both successfully reaching home twice.
- Four Stags logged an RBI (Stephenson, Bucciero, JP Kuczik, and Luke Nomura)
- Just three Fairfield players combined for the team’s five hits.
- Stephenson (2-for-3) and Nomura (2-for-4) both had a multi-hit afternoon to lead the Stags, while Bucciero connected on the last hit.
- The squad drew six combined walks, with Schmalzle and Nolan Colby reaching base on balls twice each.
- MAAC Rookie of the Year, Engle Harrison (7-2), got the starting nod for the Stags and threw 6.0 innings where he gave up six hits and no earned runs with one strikeout.
- Jimmy Mulvaney was awarded the save after closing out the game by recording the final out with two on in the ninth.
Niagara Notes and Notables
- Elijha Hammill reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk and a double.
- McKay (2-for-5) also had a multiple hit afternoon, while scoring a run.
- Green and Cote each led the Purple Eagles with an RBI.
- Andrew Damiani (5-5), the MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year, took the mound in the seventh and pitched the final 3.0 innings giving up one hit, one run and striking out one to receive the decision.
- Niagara fell into the elimination bracket with the defeat but advanced to the field’s final four due to being the highest seeded team to lose on Thursday.
No. 6 Marist – 13 | No. 4 Merrimack – 8
Heritage Financial Park | WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY
Box Score
No. 6 Marist survived its second straight elimination bracket game of the championship, this time knocking out No. 4 Merrimack 13-8. The Red Foxes started the game on fire with six hits and five runs in the top of the first inning. Each of the first two runs were created by bunts. Then back to back RBI singles capped off the opening inning. Dylan Millman hit a two RBI single to left field and Drew McGowan hit an RBI single to center field. Marist extended its lead to 7-0 in the top of the fifth when Chris Diaz sent a bomb over the right field wall for a two-run home run. The bottom half of the inning would be déjà vu for the Red Foxes, as the Warriors responded with a six spot to cut the game to one run. Merrimack scored all six runs in the inning with two outs. Joey Frammartino and Chris Goode both drove in two runs, in the inning to lead the rally. Merrimack took the lead in the sixth with two more runs. Greg Cristino’s RBI single to center field tied up the game, before Jayden Hamilton’s RBI single through the left side gave the Warriors an 8-7 lead. In total, the Warriors scored eight unanswered runs over the two innings. Marist wouldn’t let the lapse stop them, as the Red Foxes stormed back in the eighth, scoring a touchdown worth of runs, to regain the lead and propel Marist to the 13-8 victory.
Marist Notes and Notables
- The entire starting nine registered a hit in the win, with four logging multiple hits, as the Marist bats accumulated 14 hits.
- AJ Brotz was 3-for-6, scoring a pair of runs and one RBI.
- Nathan Lincoln went 2-for-5 at the plate while also scoring two runs and logging one RBI.
- TJ Baer reached home three times and connected on 2-for-5 hits while recording one RBI.
- Monico (2-for-5) had an RBI and run.
- Diaz led the lineup with three RBIs and crossed home once.
- Millman had two RBIs and scored one time.
- Closer Jack Sullivan (2-1) struck out four batters in 3.0 innings of scoreless action.
- Marist survives and advances in the championship yet again and will play its third elimination bracket contest on Friday.
Merrimack Notes and Notables
- Three Warriors tabbed two hits and they included Cristino (2-for-4), Hamilton (2-for-3), and Goode (2-for-5).
- Cristino, Frammartino, and Goode all had two RBIs.
- Brooks Craigue scored a team-high two runs.
- The losing pitcher was reliever James Nichols (2-2) who went 3.1 innings which he gave up three earned runs on five hits suffered.
- Merrimack’s season ends with a 27-29 overall record.
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.
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