FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Fairfield University baseball coach John Slosar announced the signing of two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) during the early signing period. Ryan Furbeck (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) and Sam Robertson (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) will join the Stags in the fall of 2008.

"Ryan and Sam are important additions to our program. I look for both to make significant contributions beginning early in their careers at Fairfield," Slosar said. "Ryan is a legitimate two-way player; his bat and speed make him a versatile offensive threat, while he shows solid mound presence as a pitcher. Sam exhibits an upper-80s fastball and a quality breaking pitch and will be a good fit in our starting rotation."

Furbeck is a three-year varsity starter at Indian Hills High School, earning all-league honors each season and All-North Jersey accolades twice. As a junior, he was a second-team All-North Jersey, All-County, and All-State Group 2 selection while helping the Braves to a state sectional championship. A lefthander, Furbeck is 17-6 during his career at Indian Hills with a 2.25 ERA and 175 strikeouts. At the plate, he is a career .390 hitter and has swiped 69 bases in 70 attempts. Furbeck was also a member of the Bergen County Bombers which captured three-consecutive AAU State Championships and were the 2006 AAU Division II National Champions.

Robertson is a three-year varsity letterwinner at Ridgefield High School and will be co-captain as a senior. In his three years, the righthander is 18-2 with a 2.12 ERA and is a career .323 hitter. As a junior, he was an All-FCIAC honorable mention. Robertson was a member of the Connecticut Crush select team and played for PG Teal (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) in the 2007 World Wood Bat Championship in Jupiter, Fla.

Fairfield went 18-28 overall and 12-14 mark in the MAAC one season ago. The Stags open their 2008 campaign Feb. 22-24 at the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by South Alabama.