FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The first career MAAC start for Gavin Wallace came at a time when his team was begging for a win. The sophomore put the team on his back and showed the conference his full potential in the best outing of his young career. Wallace tossed a career-high eight innings and the offense poured on 17 hits as the Stags won the nightcap 13-1 over Rider after dropping the first game of the twin bill 7-6.

“I knew coming into the third game that we needed to win this one,” Wallace said. “Our pitcher have been doing well but I said 'I'm going to put this on my back and take us.' Luckily that happened.”

Luck might not be the biggest thing Wallace should credit as his talent was shown as he kept a Rider (7-18, 2-4 MAAC) team off balance the entire day. The Broncs had scored 13 runs in their previous two games against the Stags (8-15, 1-2 MAAC), but was limited to four singles and two doubles against the sophomore right hander.

“He was really good,” Head Coach Bill Currier said. “It was great for him to get over that hump in the fifth inning. He actually went out and threw better in the seventh and eighth.”

The pitching numbers of Wallace are not the only digits that strike fans on the scorecard. Fairfield had one of their biggest offensive outputs of the season as they struck for 13 runs on 17 hits.

Jake Salpietro and Troy Scocca singled in runs in the first inning to put the Stags up 3-0. The Stags did not start to do their damage until the middle of the game when they tallied 10 runs in a four-inning span.

Michael Conti singled in runs in the fifth and sixth innings, Jack Gethings tacked on RBI singles in the sixth and eighth, which accounted for two of his four hits in the finale. Gethings led four Stags who notched multiple hits, with Brendan Tracy and Drew Arciuolo also doing the honors.

The balanced offensive attack was apparent as six Stags recorded RBI with Gethings and Salpietro leading the club with three apiece. Reserves Drew Blake and Mitch Williams made the most of their time in the late innings and both knocked in runs of their own.

The Stags managed to salvage the final game of the three-game series after letting one slip away in the first game on a rain threatened Alumni Diamond.

Fairfield held a 5-2 lead in the third after Salpietro drove in a run with a single and Kevin Radziewicz recorded a sacrifice fly. Rider was able to chip away and take a 6-5 lead into the sixth inning.

In what is becoming almost customary, Mac Crispino reached base in the sixth inning and was lifted for pinch runner Tyler Gambardella. The freshman was sacrificed over to second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Conti.

However, after getting the first two men out in the top of the seventh, the Stags gave up a run courtesy of two fielding errors and Rider escaped with a 7-6 victory.

But because of the pitching of Wallace, the Stags were rewarded.

“If it comes down to it, to be a good pitcher you have to want the ball,” Wallace said. “I know every pitcher on this staff wants the ball in every situation. If it's my turn to take the ball and give us the win, then I'm going to do that.”

The weekday starter will be next on the staff to get the ball as the Stags host NYIT on Tuesday at 3pm.