Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - After rain washed out the Fairfield University baseball team's weekday games, the Stags enjoyed today's warm weather as their bats heated up in the doubleheader split with Rider University. Fairfield was edged 5-4 in the first game, but surged back for a decisive 13-8 victory in the second game.

The Stags (16-19, 6-8 MAAC) posted a combined 17 runs on 29 hits while Rider (19-16; 10-7 MAAC) tallied 13 runs on 18 hits on the day.

In the opening game, Rider used eighth and ninth-inning rallies to come-from-behind for the 5-4 victory. The Stags started the scoring, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a homer by Bill Rafferty (Guilderland, N.Y.). Fairfield added another run in the top of the second as Ryan Furbeck (Oakland, N.J.) scored on a Rider throwing error. The Broncs came back to tie the score in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single followed by a sac fly.

The Stags regained the lead, 4-2, in the top of the sixth inning as Furbeck blasted a two-run homerun to right field. Rider took advantage of two Fairfield errors in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two runs to tie the score. In the bottom of the ninth, Matt McCollum led off with a single to right, advanced to second on a sac bunt, and to third on a wild pitch. Reliever Dan Gallagher (Allendale, N.J.) issued intentional walks to the next two batters to load the bases and set up the force. But, pinch hitter Ryan Murphy followed with a single down the right field line to drive in the game-winning run.

Junior Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J.) received the no-decision after going 7.2 innings, scattering four runs, two earned, on nine hits while striking out nine batters. With his strikeouts, Gariano surpassed former Stag Mike Beaudoin for third on the career strikeouts list and now has 199 for his career. Gariano is closing in on Ed Kamintzky for second all-time (210) and all-time leader Keefe Cato (239).

Gallagher (2-3) took the loss, giving up one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Rider's Nate Eppley got the win after pitching the top of the ninth. Mike Petrowski received the no-decision after allowing four runs, three earned, on 10 hits in 8.0 innings.

The one-run game was the Stags' 17th of the season. Seven of Fairfield's last nine games have been one-run contests.

Fairfield unleashed its offense in the second game pounding out 13 runs on 18 hits in the seven-inning contest. Sophomore Tucker Nathans (Warwick, N.Y.) gave Fairfield a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with a two-run bomb to straightaway center for the Stags' third homer of the day. Rider tied the score in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run double by Mo Williams. The Broncs then took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third on a McCollum fielder's choice with the bases loaded.

The Stags broke the game open in the top of the third inning putting five runs on the board. With the bases loaded and one out, Furbeck cleared them with a triple down the right field line. After Chris Horning (Potomac, Md.) was plunked, rookie Tyler Wosleger (East Hampton, Conn.) doubled in Furbeck. Horning later scored on a fielding error by the Broncs. Junior David Dudish (Olney, Md.) gave Fairfield a 10-3 advantage with a three-run homer in the top of the fourth, but Rider countered with five runs in the bottom half of the stanza to make the score 10-8.

The Stags got two of the runs back in the top of the fifth inning as Nathans singled Rafferty home and later came around to score on a Rider error. Fairfield added another run on an RBI triple by Carmine DeVito (Plainview, N.Y.) in the top of the seventh to make the score 13-8.

Junior Kevin Fico (Stamford, Conn.) improved to 4-3 this season by going four innings, allowing eight runs, four earned, on seven hits. Junior Rick Piccirillo (Trumbull, Conn.) earned the save by throwing three scoreless and hitless innings with three strikeouts. Rider's Jimmer Kennedy took the loss, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings.

DeVito finished the day 5-for-8, including a 4-for-5 performance in the nightcap, while Horning went 4-for-7. Rafferty was 5-for-10 with four runs scored while Furbeck was 3-for-8 with five RBI and three runs score on the afternoon.

Fairfield and Rider will play the deciding game of the series tomorrow, April 26, at noon at Sonny Pittaro Field.