Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn.  - The Fairfield University baseball team suffered a pair of tough Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) losses to Rider University this afternoon as the Broncs (20-14, 9-5 MAAC) defeated the Stags (10-24, 8-6 MAAC) 17-9 in the opening game and 12-2 in the nightcap. 

Sophomore David Dudish (Olney, Md.), the reigning MAAC Player of the Week, tied a Fairfield single game record in the opening contest by recording three doubles. The last time a Stag had three doubles in one game in 2005 when Tom Arpino completed the task. Dudish finished the day a combined 4-for-8 with two runs scored. All four hits were doubles. 

Freshman Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) drove in six runs on the day, going a combined 4-for-7 at the plate with two doubles. Senior Pat Hoban (Malvern, Pa.) went a combined 4-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored. 

Rider took a 6-4 lead in game one, but Fairfield posted a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game. The Broncs, however, tacked four runs on the board in the top of the seventh to break the stalemate. Fairfield got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 10-7 but Rider broke the contest open in the top of the eighth with a six-run effort. The Broncs added one more in the top of the ninth to make the score 17-7. In the bottom of the ninth, Hoban hit a two run homer to left field with one out, but the Stags rally would stop there. 

Sophomore Scott Gussaroff (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.) took the loss, going two innings and allow four runs, one earned, on three hits. Sophomore Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J.) got the no decision after giving up six runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in five innings. 

In game two, Rider's Jimmer Kennedy had a solid complete game effort holding the Stags to two runs on eight hits while fanning seven batters. Rider took advantage of some defensive miscues by the Stags in the first inning to open a 3-0 lead. After scoring again in the second, they increased the gap to 8-0 in the top of the third inning with a five-run effort, which included a grand slam by James Hayes. The Stags scored both runs in the bottom of the third as Nathans doubled home Hoban and freshman Mike Bourdon (Simsbury, Conn.).

Senior Ryan Calabrese (Wantagh, N.Y.) took the loss giving up five runs, three earned, on five hits in two innings of work. Freshman Dan Belding (Holbrook, N.Y.) threw two scoreless innings of relief as he allowed just one hit and struck out three batters. 

The two teams combined for 49 hits, 16 of which were for extra bases, and 40 runs on the day.

Fairfield concludes the series with Rider tomorrow, April 20, at noon.