WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (Interstat) — Brendon Miller threw seven innings of no-hit baseball and the Fairfield Stags defeated the Niagara Purple Eagles 9-2 on Friday at Heritage Financial Park in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.

Miller struck out seven and allowed two earned runs despite not surrendering a hit across his seven innings. He benefited from strong defensive support and held Niagara scoreless until the second inning, when the Purple Eagles manufactured a run on a stolen base and an error. Miller improved to 3-0 in his past three appearances after tossing three scoreless innings against Sacred Heart on May 16.

The Stags improved to 30-22 overall. The Purple Eagles fell to 27-21-1.

Fairfield jumped ahead in the third inning. After Nick Colby walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Paine, Colby moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Zach Stephenson. Matthew Bucciero then walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Justin Kuczik followed with an RBI double to left field, giving the Stags a 2-0 lead.

Niagara answered in the bottom of the second. Ryan Kozar singled up the middle and Trey ViVacqua singled to right center, with Kozar moving to third. After a lineout, Kozar stole home and ViVacqua stole second during a strikeout. A single by Max Ganschow put runners at the corners, but a strikeout ended the inning with the Stags leading 2-1.

Fairfield extended its lead in the fifth. Kuczik singled, and Thomas Schmalzle doubled to put runners at second and third. Luke Nomura singled to left field, scoring Kuczik. Schmalzle then scored on a sacrifice fly by Caden Scanlan. The Stags loaded the bases on a walk and a stolen base, but a flyout left the score 4-1.

The Stags broke the game open in the sixth. Stephenson singled and Bucciero singled, putting runners at first and second. After a flyout, Schmalzle walked to load the bases. Nomura reached on a dropped fly ball by the left fielder, scoring two runs on the error. Nomura stole second and Schmalzle stole third, and then Jack Haarde hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Schmalzle and giving Fairfield a 7-1 lead.

Niagara cut the deficit to 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Ganschow singled and Steven Cameron walked. After a strikeout, Ethan Hammill singled up the middle, scoring Ganschow. A strikeout ended the inning.

Fairfield added two more runs in the ninth. Paine walked and Stephenson doubled to right center, scoring Paine. Bucciero singled through the left side, scoring Stephenson. Bucciero stole second but was stranded.

Jimmy Mulvaney and Ryan Maiorano combined to pitch the final two innings for Fairfield, allowing no runs and one hit. Mulvaney threw 1 1/3 perfect innings and Maiorano recorded the final two outs after a fielding error put runners on base in the ninth.

For Niagara, Gage Wheaton started and allowed two runs on two hits over 2 2/3 innings with three strikeouts. Nathan Harb and Hayden Morrison each threw a scoreless inning of relief. Jack Dickinson pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit.

Fairfield collected 11 hits, led by Stephenson, who went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and Bucciero, who went 2 for 5 with an RBI. Schmalzle also had two hits. Niagara managed seven hits, with Hammill driving in one run.

The game featured a pivotal moment in the sixth inning when Nomura’s fly ball was dropped by left fielder Ethan Hammill, allowing two unearned runs to score and turning a 4-1 game into a 6-1 advantage. The error proved decisive as Fairfield’s bullpen held Niagara scoreless over the final three innings.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Fairfield 7, Niagara 6. Interstat’s ELO system gave Fairfield a 69.70 percent probability to win.