FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The title of the story changes, but the outcome stays the same. The Fairfield University Baseball team kept their perfect record and added a little more emphasis as they shutout the Rider Broncs in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 5-0 and 6-0. With the sweep, the Stags remain the only unbeaten team in the country with an unblemished 14-0 record.
 
"We knew we had a good club if we get everyone healthy and get firing," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "It's nice to come out playing good baseball in week one and keeping it up for another four weeks. We still have another month and a half to go so we hope to keep firing like we have in a lot of good areas."
 
 
Game One: Fairfield 5, Rider 0
 
The Stags starting pitchers were the ones who came out firing on Saturday as John Signore and Bryson Cafaro each threw at least six shutout innings in the twin bill.
 
Signore started the successful day for the Stags as the right-hander picked up his 20th career victory, tossing a complete game three hit shutout in the seven inning opener. Signore allowed just three baserunners on three singles and struck out five without walking a batter.
 
Signore allowed just one Rider Bronc to reach second base after back-to-back two out singles in the third. Signore would get out of the mini jam with a strikeout and would go on to retire the final 13 batters he faced. Not only did Signore not walk a batter, he had just one three-ball count, coming in the second inning.
 
While Signore was economical and dominant, the Stags were able to squeeze out five runs from Rider's starter.
 
Three of those runs came in the third inning after the Stags loaded the bases with one out. Justin Guerrera got the first RBI hit as he lined a single into left on the first pitch of the at-bat. Sean Cullen followed with a two run single up the middle to put the score at 3-0.
 
Fairfield would add a run in the fifth after Mike Becchetti brought in a run on a sacrifice fly. Dan Ryan capped the scoring with another insurance run in the sixth as he hit a high fly ball to shallow centerfield that dropped in, allowing Mike Handal to hustle all the way from first base and score.
 
Signore would record his 20th career victory, tying Lou Vigliotti '95 for second on the program's all-time list. He is now one victory sky of tying Keefe Cato '79 for the program's top mark.
 
Handal, Cullen, and Ryan each recorded multiple hits in the opener as the Stags won with all eight of their hits being singles.
 
 
Game Two: Fairfield 6, Rider 0
 
Bryson Cafaro was the star of the nightcap as he pitched the best game of his career, tossing six shutout innings surrendering just two hits and one walk while striking out four. Cafaro retired the first 10 batters he faced and Rider got their first hit on a bunt single back to the pitcher.
 
Cafaro would immediately pickoff that runner and then got a swinging strikeout to end the inning.
 
Cafaro would have a five run lead to work with after the Stags scored twice in the first and three times in the third. Cullen opened the scoring with an opposite field home run, his first as a Stag.
 
Becchetti would get another big hit in the third with a two run double and would later score on a RBI single by Matt Venuto.
 
Eli Oliphant and Jason Hebner preserved the shutout with Oliphant tossing two scoreless frames before Hebner finished with a perfect ninth inning.
 
Cullen, Handal, and Becchetti all recorded multiple hits in the nightcap.
 
Cafaro picked up his second career win in his second start of the season. He joins a Fairfield pitching staff that has been lights out in the early going, as the starting pitchers have combined to go 12-0 with a 2.18 ERA.
 
Signore now holds a 0.49 ERA allowing just one earned run in 18.1 innings while Cafaro sits at a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings.
 
The Stags will look to keep that pitching momentum going as they close out a four game midweek series with Quinnipiac with a Wednesday doubleheader starting at noon.