LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. –The Fairfield University baseball team registered two important Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victories with a doubleheader sweep at Rider University this afternoon. The Stags knocked off the Broncs, 6-5, in the opener while junior Mark Skrapits lifted Fairfield to a 3-1 extra-inning victory in the second contest with a game-winning hit. Sophomore Mark Bordonaro notched two saves on the day as the Stags improved to 6-5 in the MAAC and 14-18 overall. Rider drops to 9-5 in the league and 21-14 overall.

Junior Larry Cornelia went a combined 4-for-7 with two runs scored and two driven in while senior Chris Horning went a combined 3-for-7 with two runs scored.

In the opener, Fairfield took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Skrapits drove in Fairfield's first run of the day with a RBI single to right field which brought in Carmine DeVito. The Stags then took advantage of a Rider error on a squeeze attempt by Cornelia which allowed Horning to score from third. A sacrifice fly by Ryan Furbeck gave the Stags the three-run lead. Rider cut the gap to 3-2 in the bottom half of the inning and tied it up in the bottom of the third inning after a Fairfield throwing error.

Fairfield regained the lead, 4-3, in the top of the fourth on a Cornelia single up the middle. Cornelia would later score on a sacrifice fly by Tucker Nathans to give the Stags a two-run advantage. Cornelia drove in his second run of the day in the top of the fifth with a single up the middle to make the score 6-3. Rider took advantage of a Fairfield error in the eighth and scored two runs in the inning to pull within 6-5. But, it was not enough as the Stags staved off the Broncs for the victory.

Junior Brett Shulick picked up the win and improved to 3-2 this season. Shulick went 7.0 innings, giving up just three runs, two earned, on nine hits. Bordonaro tossed the final two innings, scattering two unearned runs on one hit and a walk for his first save of the day. Rider's Mike Thomas (5-2) took the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits in 5.0 innings.

The Stags got the scoring started in the second game of the doubleheader as well. With two outs in the first, Nathans doubled right center and the scored on a single to center by Anthony Hajjar to give Fairfield the 1-0 lead. Rider tied the score in the second inning on a RBI single by Karl Johnston. The two teams would take a stalemate into the seventh inning, with each putting a runner on third base but failing to advance him thus forcing extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Cornelia led off with a single while Furbeck followed with a walk. Both runners would score on a double by Skrapits, giving the Stags a 3-1 lead. Fairfield loaded the bases with one out, but Rider was able to get out of the jam with an inning-ending double play. Bordonaro came in the bottom of the eighth and shut down the Broncs for his second save of the day and fourth of the season.

Junior Scott Warwick threw a gem in his fourth victory of the season, scattering one run on five hits in 7.0 innings of work. Rider reliever Tyler Smith (2-3) took the loss, allowing two runs in two innings of work. Starter Nate Eppley received the no-decision after holding the Stags to one run on four hits with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings.

Furbeck extended his on-base streak to 18 games with his walk in the eighth inning of game two. He extended his hitting streak to 11 games in the opening contest but had it snapped in the second game.