Three-time defending MAAC Regular Season Champion Fairfield finished with six unanswered runs to take the series-opener from Siena Baseball 9-2 in Connecticut.
Nick Sturino hit a three-run homer to cap a decisive four-run fifth inning which gave Fairfield (21-20, 11-2) a 7-2 lead. Matt Bergevin added a two-run shot in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Siena (8-30, 4-9) had rallied within 3-2 in the fifth on a squeeze from
Randall Hien and a subsequent RBI double by
Tyler Figueroa. The Saints totaled 10 hits – highlighted by a perfect 4-for-4 from
Nick Bergamotto – with Hien and
Austin Rachiele adding a pair of knocks apiece.
Bowen Baker struck out seven over six innings to earn the win for the Stags.
The middle game of the series is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.