ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — Vincent Venditti’s solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning forced extra innings and set the stage for a dramatic finish as the Siena Saints rallied to defeat the Fairfield Stags 6-5 in 11 innings in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball action Friday at Siena Baseball Field.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final two frames, erasing a late Fairfield lead and culminating in a walk-off victory for the home team. Clinging to a 5-4 lead in the ninth, Fairfield reliever Harrison Engle surrendered the tying run to Venditti, who sent a one-out pitch over the left field wall. The Saints then put the potential winning run on base via an error but could not convert, sending the game to extras.

After both teams were held scoreless in the 10th, the Saints completed the comeback in the 11th. Pinch-hitter Anthony D’Elia drew a leadoff walk from Engle, advanced to second on Venditti’s sacrifice bunt and moved to third after an intentional walk to Randall Bergamotto. With two outs, Wyatt Sparks drove a double to center field, scoring D’Elia and igniting the celebration for Siena.

The loss wasted a masterful start from Fairfield’s Ben Alekson, who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The right-hander finished with a final line of six innings pitched, allowing no hits and two runs, one earned, while striking out five. He exited with a 5-3 lead, but the Stags’ bullpen could not hold it.

Fairfield built its advantage with a pair of two-run innings. In the fourth, Zach Stephenson’s double to right field scored two. An inning later, designated hitter Jake Haarde doubled down the left field line to drive in two more, finishing his day 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

Siena chipped away against Alekson with single runs in the fourth and fifth, the latter scoring on a Fairfield error. Gavin Thorburn’s RBI triple in the eighth cut the deficit to 5-4, setting the stage for Venditti’s late heroics. Thorburn went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

Siena starter Tyler Sausville worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and four runs, while striking out six. The Saints’ bullpen combination of Ryan Lundari and Gio Conte was pivotal, combining for 5 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out nine. Conte earned the win with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball, fanning four.

Fairfield reliever Ryan Maiorano provided two perfect innings of relief with four strikeouts before Engle entered in the ninth. Engle was charged with the loss despite striking out six over 2 2/3 innings.

The Stags out-hit the Saints 11-7 but left 10 runners on base and were plagued by three errors. Siena executed two sacrifice hits in the victory.

With the win, Siena improved to 4-7 overall and 1-0 in the MAAC. Fairfield, which entered the game with an 82.10 percent win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, fell to 1-8 and 0-1 in conference play.

Siena next travels to face Stony Brook on Tuesday. Fairfield continues its road stretch at Saint John’s on Tuesday before hosting Manhattan for a three-game series starting Friday.