FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University baseball team continues its 10-game road trip this weekend with a series against crosstown rival and now Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Fairfield. The series opens with a doubleheader on Friday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., followed by the finale on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

LAST TIME OUT 

The Pioneers continued their strong weekend play against Siena, taking two of three against Siena in Loudonville. After a narrow 4-3 loss in game one, the Pioneers' offense erupted for 26 runs over the final two games, securing their sixth consecutive series victory. 

Senior outfielder Zack Kovalchik led the offensive surge, batting .416 across the series with a home run and five RBIs. He was one of four Pioneers to go deep on Sunday and one of five to homer over the weekend, joining Dante D'Amore, Gavin Donohue, Ronan Donohue, and Peter Link. 

PJ Rogan, who ranks 10th in the country in ERA (1.50) and second in the MAAC in saves (3), delivered 5.1 scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's victory. The sophomore switch-pitcher has been dominant, allowing just one run over his last 15 innings. 

Sacred Heart struggled in its midweek matchup, falling 11-6 to CCSU on Tuesday. Joe Cilea, D'Amore, R. Donohue, and Kovalchik each recorded two hits, but the rest of the lineup managed just one. On the mound, Mitch Hawkins and Jonathan Peterson provided a bright spot in relief, combining for 2.2 scoreless innings after Bryan Matuschat's start. 

SCOUTING FAIRFIELD 

After capturing four consecutive MAAC regular-season titles, Fairfield entered 2025 as the team to beat, earning the top spot in the MAAC Preseason Poll. The Stags have lived up to expectations, boasting a 20-7 overall record and an 8-1 mark in conference play. 

Fairfield opened MAAC competition with a sweep of Manhattan before suffering its lone conference loss to Siena. Since then, the Stags have been red-hot, riding an eight-game winning streak, including five consecutive MAAC victories. 

The Stags' offensive firepower was on full display in Wednesday's midweek showdown against Yale. Trailing 11-7 entering the ninth, Fairfield's lineup, ranked first or second in every major offensive category among MAAC teams, erupted for eight runs to secure a 15-11 victory. 

Fairfield's high-powered offense is led by MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Dean Ferrara, who ranks third in the conference with a .397 batting average and leads all MAAC hitters with 50 hits. 

On the mound, Fairfield has benefited from solid performances by its top two starters, Ben Alekson and Bowen Baker. 

Alekson, a sophomore right-hander, leads the team with a 2.63 ERA and 36 strikeouts across 41 innings, more than any other pitcher in the MAAC. 

Baker, a graduate southpaw, has been equally impressive, ranking eighth in the conference in earned runs allowed with 17. 

ALL-TIME SERIES 

Sacred Heart and Fairfield have met 25 times, with the Stags holding a 17-8 advantage in the all-time series. While the teams split a midweek doubleheader last season, Fairfield has controlled recent matchups, winning eight of the last 10 meetings dating back to 2018. This weekend marks their first clash as conference opponents. 

UP NEXT 

Sacred Heart wraps up its road trip with back-to-back midweek matchups, facing Stony Brook on Tuesday and FDU on Wednesday. The Pioneers then return home next weekend for a MAAC series against Canisius.