WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY (May 23, 2026) – No. 1 Rider University won the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Baseball Championship title on Saturday, May 23 at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls. The Broncs secured the title by defeating No. 3 Fairfield, capturing the program’s fifth overall MAAC crown.
No. 3 Fairfield – 12 | No. 1 Rider – 7
Heritage Financial Park | WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY
Box Score
Fairfield used a come from behind win, spearheaded by a nine-run eighth inning to beat Rider in the first game of the series. Fairfield quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning. A sac fly/RBI by TJ Schmalzle allowed Zach Stephenson to tag up at third and slide in safely for the game’s first run. Moments later, Luke Nomura sent a shot over the head of Rider’s left fielder, driving home Matt Bucciero to give the Stags a two-run advantage. Rider capitalized in the home half of the third to claim the lead. Charley Magoulick singled to center for an RBI as Will Gallagher reached home. Three consecutive walks loaded the bases and then brought in the game-tying and go-ahead runs with two outs (Anthony Paskell and Magoulick scored). Then, a beautiful bunt single by Matt Leahy resulted in Nick Shuhet scoring from third to put Rider ahead 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth with Kyle Neri on first, Paskell hit a shot into the left center alley for an RBI triple to put the Broncs up 5-2. Fairfield cut it to a 5-3 deficit in the sixth, with Connor Scanlan scoring on a ground out by Stephenson (RBI). Rider responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth to keep the lead at three runs. Magoulick ripped a double down the right field line, scoring Neri and making it a 6-3 ball game. The pendulum swing occurred in the top of the eighth as the Stags put together a massive inning. Fairfield loaded the bases with no outs to start the frame. One run was walked in, before JP Kuczik hit a ball that bounced just over the reach of the third baseman, that sent in two runs to tie the game at 6-6. With bases still loaded and no outs, Nomura drew a walk that brought Bucciero home to take a 7-6 lead, followed by Nolan Colby drawing a walk for the next run, and Payten Wawruck being hit by a pitch to make the score 9-6. The eighth inning comeback was capped off with a bases clearing, three RBI double by Stephenson, to give Fairfield its ninth run of the inning and a commanding 12-6 lead. In total the Stags were walked six times, had three hits, one hit by pitch, and scored nine runs in the spectacular inning. Neri got Rider back on track with a solo blast to left field to cut the Broncs deficit to 12-7, but that would be all she wrote as Fairfield would claim the win and force one more final game.
Fairfield Notes and Notables
- Fairfield was walked 16 times, a mark that was the third highest in the conference this season.
- Stephenson, Schmalzle, and Colby each earned three walks to lead the team, while Bucciero and Nomura were walked twice.
- Fairfield had one multi-hit performer in the game, and it was Nomura who went 2-for-4 at the plate, with two RBIs and one run.
- Stephenson led the Stags with a team-high four RBIs and added two runs.
- Kuczik also had a pair of RBIs.
- Four additional Stags scored runs and they included Bucciero, Scanlan, Colby, and Wawruck.
- Hunter Hoxie (1-1) was one of five Stags to take the mound in the win, with him going the longest with 4.0 innings of work.
- He faced 20 batters, striking out two, walking three, and giving up two runs.
- With the win, Fairfield forced the first winner take all game in the Championship Series since 2023.
Rider Notes and Notables
- Rider allowed 16 walks, the second-most by any MAAC team in a game this season.
- Neri (2-for-3) led the team with three runs and one RBI, also reaching base with a pair of walks.
- Magoulick (2-for-5) had a team-high two RBIs, a run, and a double.
- Paskell (2-for-3) had a run, RBI, triple, and two walks.
- Riders had six pitchers make an appearance, with Conner Flynn (2-2) being the losing pitcher.
No. 1 Rider – 6 | No. 3 Fairfield – 1
Heritage Financial Park | WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY
Box Score
In the championship finale, Rider completely shut down Fairfield, leading to a 6-1 victory. Rider put up a three spot in the top of the second to take control of the game. Leahy grounded a ball to the shortstop that got thrown into the dugout, which let Medlock jog into home for the game’s first run. Will Gallagher then drove in Crespo for the second run with an RBI ground out. The third and final run was courtesy of an RBI single through the right side by Erich Hartmann, bringing in Leahy. The Broncs added two more runs in the fifth with Paskell scoring a run after a wild pitch and Shuhet taking home on a fielder’s choice. In the seventh, Shuhet singled through the left side scoring Paskell and giving Rider a 6-0 lead. Through seven, Rider ace PJ Craig only allowed two hits and three total baserunners, while shutting out the Stags. Rider was primed for a shutout win, but Fairfield’s Bucciero scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth before the game ended.
Rider Notes and Notables
- Paskell logged a pair of hits again, (2-for-5) while scoring two runs and stealing a base.
- Shuhet also had a multi-hit outing, going 2-for-5 with a RBI and run.
- Gallagher, Hartmann, and Crespo each recorded an RBI.
- Craig (9-3) dominated in his second start of the postseason, tossing 7.0 shutout innings, with six punch outs, just two hits, and one walk.
- In his two outings, he went 2-0, pitching 16.0 innings, with 12 strikeouts, five hits, three walks and two runs.
Fairfield Notes and Notables
- Stephenson (1-for-4) and Bucciero (1-for-3) got the only two hits.
- Bucciero scored the Stags only run and also forced a walk.
- Nomura reached twice via a pair of walks and recorded the lone RBI.
- Fairfield sent six pitchers into the game, with Matt Kalfas (0-1) getting the defeat after his 3.1 inning outing, with five runs (four earned), five walks, and four strikeouts.
Championship Series Notes
- The title for the Broncs is the fifth in program history and the third over the past six seasons (2008, 2010, 2021, 2023, 2026).
- The last three championships won by Rider all came against Fairfield.
- This was the second straight year – fourth time over the past six seasons – Fairfield and Rider have met in the Championship Series.
- The two have combined to make 11 appearances in the Championship Series since 2019 and at least one or both teams have made the series every season over that timeframe.
- For Rider, this was its 10th overall appearance in the title series and the fifth time since 2019.
- Rider skipper Dr. Barry Davis becomes the second coach in league history to win five MAAC Championships, tying former Siena coach Tony Rossi.
- Rider becomes the first No. 1 seed in a decade to win the championship, with the 2016 Fairfield squad being the last top overall seed to win it all.
- 2026 marked the first time the championship went to the if necessary game since 2023, with Fairfield and Rider being the participants that season as well.
- Lastly, the Broncs will be making their 16th NCAA berth in program history.
Rider earns the MAAC automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The Broncs will find out what regional they are headed to when the field of 64 is announced during the Division I Baseball Selection Show, which airs live on Monday, May 25 at noon on ESPN2.
| 2026 Baseball All-Championship Team |
| Name |
School |
| AJ Brotz |
Marist |
| Jack Sullivan |
Marist |
| Nate Bennett |
Niagara |
| Elijha Hammill |
Niagara |
| JP Kuczik |
Fairfield |
| Ben Alekson |
Fairfield |
| Zach Stephenson |
Fairfield |
| Erich Hartmann |
Rider |
| Kyle Neri |
Rider |
| Peter Crespo |
Rider |
| Christian Aiello |
Rider |
| PJ Craig (MVP) |
Rider |
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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