Fairfield Baseball Opens Season vs. Coastal Carolina: MAAC Champs Return Key Players

February 12, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Fairfield University’s baseball team will begin its 2026 season Friday at 4 p.m. Against Coastal Carolina, the runners-up in the 2025 College World Series. The three-game series will continue Saturday at 2 p.m. And conclude Sunday at 1 p.m., with all games streamed on ESPN+.

The Stags are coming off a historic 2025 season, tying a program record with 39 wins and capturing their second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship. That victory secured their third NCAA Regional appearance in program history. Fairfield defeated Rider in the championship game after a tenth-inning solo home run by Nolan Colby.

Fairfield will return five starting position players from the championship squad, led by Matthew Bucciero, who has been named the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. Bucciero finished second in the conference last season with 15 home runs and 67 RBIs, also leading the team in slugging percentage (.633), on-base percentage (.462), and stolen bases (21). He was named the MAAC Championship Most Outstanding Player.

All-MAAC First Teamer Luke Nomura also returns, having been selected to the Preseason All-MAAC squad this year. Nomura finished second in the conference with 81 hits and 65 runs scored, and third with 141 total bases, posting a .332 batting average. Joining them will be returning starters TJ Schmalzle, JP Kuzcik, and Colby, who combined for 144 hits, 127 runs scored, 18 home runs, and 107 RBIs.

The team has added seven new position players, including graduate transfers Luke Spencer, Zach Stephenson, and Dom Camera.

On the mound, Fairfield returns All-MAAC First Teamer Ben Alekson, who tied a single-season program record with nine wins. He led the MAAC in WHIP (1.12) and finished second in ERA (3.34) and strikeouts (84). Matthew Grabmann, who made 22 appearances with six wins and 52.0 innings pitched last season, is also back. The pitching staff has been bolstered by seven new pitchers, including transfers Hunter Hoxie (Rutgers), Joseph Chambers (Dartmouth), Devin Wolff (UConn), and Alex Frank (Hobart).

Coastal Carolina, ranked No. 6 in the DIBaseball.com poll, will start Cameron Flukey, the 2026 Baseball America Preseason Player of the Year, in Friday’s game. Fairfield will continue its month-long road trip with a visit to Davidson next weekend.

Fairfield previously faced Coastal Carolina in the NCAA Conway Regional on May 30, 2025, losing 10-2.