FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Baseball team scored six runs in the first inning and got six strong frames from Josh Arnold as the Stags took the series opener from the Rider Broncs 13-4 at Alumni Diamond.
 
"We did a good job today of putting the ball in play and getting some hits early," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "I don't think their starter was as sharp as he wanted to be early and we got some runs."
 
Drew Arciuolo began the decisive first inning for the Stags (9-16, 3-4 MAAC) by singling through the left side, the first of a season-high four hits that Arciuolo would record in the game. After a single from Kevin Radziewicz and a walk to Ian Halpin loaded the bases, the Stags would plate their first run as Eric Cerno walked to drive in a run. Mitch Williams tallied the biggest hit of the frame as he cleared the bases with a double right over the first base bag. Dan Ryan and Arciuolo would also drive in runs with RBI singles in the first.
 
Arnold kept the Stags in front as he battled through six innings, striking out a career-high nine batters. The Broncs (6-19, 1-2 MAAC) would cut the Fairfield lead to 6-2 with sacrifice flies from Jake Barbiere and Tyler Stockwell in the fourth.
 
The Stags would answer right back with two runs in the fourth and four in the fifth. Halpin notched a RBI single and Dan Ryan hit a sacrifice fly to account for Fairfield's runs in the fourth.
 
In the fifth, the Stags batted around for the second time in the game and would get RBI singles from Arciuolo and Dan Ryan. Ryan's single to left was his third RBI of the contest and also scored Radziewicz, the fourth time he crossed the plate.
 
Six different Stags recorded a hit in the contest, with four of those tallying multiple base knocks. Along with the four from Arciuolo, Radziewicz recorded three while Dan Ryan and Tom Ryan both put up two base knocks.
 
After Arnold's six inning performance, the bullpen trio of Jason Hebner, Bobby McNiff, and Bryson Cafaro combined to allow one unearned run in their three innings.
 
The Stags and the Broncs will close their series with a doubleheader tomorrow at noon.