FAIRFIELD (Interstat) — Marist Red Foxes scored four runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Fairfield Stags 4-3 in the first game of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday at Webster Bank Arena.

Marist improved to 19-27 overall, while Fairfield fell to 23-20.

Red Foxes right-hander Andrew Fierro turned in a dominant start, allowing no hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and surrendered one earned run, leaving with a 4-1 lead. Jack Sullivan earned the save, working 2 2/3 innings with five strikeouts while allowing two runs.

Fairfield struck first in the bottom of the second inning when catcher JP Kuczik launched a solo home run to left field. The Stags led 1-0 after two innings.

Marist answered in the top of the third. AJ Brotz singled and came around to score on a Nathan Lincoln single up the middle, tying the game at 1-1.

The game remained deadlocked until the top of the seventh. Luke Monico doubled to right-center, and TJ Baer reached on a bunt single, putting runners at the corners. Brotz then laid down a bunt single, scoring Monico to give Marist a 2-1 lead. Lincoln followed with a double to right-center that scored Baer and Brotz, extending the advantage to 4-1.

Fairfield narrowed the gap in the bottom of the eighth. Matt Bucciero singled and scored on Kuczik’s double to left-center, making it 4-2.

The Stags threatened again in the bottom of the ninth. Jake Haarde singled and Nolan Colby doubled down the right-field line to drive in Haarde, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Colby advanced to third on a wild pitch and Fairfield loaded the bases after a walk and a hit-by-pitch, but Sullivan struck out TJ Schmalzle and got Matt Bucciero to ground out, ending the game.

Lincoln finished 2 for 5 with three RBIs. Brotz went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Noel Rivera added two hits for Marist.

Kuczik led Fairfield by going 2 for 3 with a home run, a double and two RBIs. Colby also went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

Fairfield starter Harrison Engle pitched six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts. Will Youngman took the loss after giving up three runs in three innings of relief.

Interstat’s ELO system gave Fairfield a 72.90 percent probability of winning.