RIVERDALE, N.Y. – It wasn't always easy_­, but good teams find a way to win and that's all the Fairfield University Baseball team has done this season. After dominating game one on a 19-9 decision, the Stags had to fight back to overtake Manhattan in the nightcap by an 8-4 and extend their perfect record to 25-0.
 
"It's about staying up and staying ready to strike when that opportunity arises and that's exactly what we did," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "We were having trouble and both teams were flat after that long first game but we stayed after it. (Justin) Guerrera hit one off the fence and then we got some more clutch hits."
 
Game One: Fairfield 19, Manhattan 9
 
After scoring 28 runs in yesterday's doubleheader, the Stag continued to score early and often as they tallied 15 runs over the first three innings.
 
The first three of those runs came in the first three batters of the game as both Mike Handal and Dan Ryan singled to lead off the contest. Justin Guerrera would bring them all home as he crushed a three-run shot over the left center field wall, beginning his five RBI night.
 
Fairfield would score six time in both the second and third frames to open their lead to 15-0. After back-to-back bases loaded walks to Ryan and Guerrera, Mike Caruso had the big knock as he cleared the bases with a three-run double in the second.
 
Caruso would add two more RBI in the very next frame to continue his five RBI game as he launched a two-run double. Ryan Strollo added two more runs with a single up the middle and Mike Becchetti also tallied a RBI hit with a single the other way.
 
That would be all the Fairfield pitching staff would need, but Manhattan did put up a fight. The Jaspers put up nine runs in the first five innings, but the Stags got scoreless relief outings from Peter Ostensen and Josh Arnold to stop the bleeding.
 
The Jaspers cut the Fairfield lead to 16-9, but the Stags would add three more runs in the sixth to take back control of the contest. Guerrera added another RBI with a double down the left field line. Sean Cullen also drove in a run and Ryan would score on a wild pitch.
 
John Signore would still pick up the win as he went 4.2 innings in the seven inning contest. The win ties Signore with Keefe Cato '79 for the program's all-time record with 21 wins.
 
The top three in the Fairfield batting order combined to go 6-for-9 with 11 runs scored while reaching base 13 times. The Stags drew 10 walks in the first game, a contest that lasted over three hours despite just seven innings.
 
 
Game Two: Fairfield 8, Manhattan 4
 
That long game seemed to affect both squads as both teams recorded zeroes until the bottom of the fourth. The Jaspers recorded the first run on a RBI groundout and would eventually continue the pressure by getting the bases loaded with two outs. As would be the theme for the nightcap, the Fairfield pitchers buckled down under pressure and got the big out. This time, it was starter Bryson Cafaro who got the Jaspers' Jake Knop to line out to right field.
 
After getting the first two outs of the bottom of the fifth, the Jaspers would load the bases again, this time against reliever Nick Grabek. The senior would find a way out of the jam, getting Richie Barella to groundout to short.
 
The Stags would use that momentum in the top half of the sixth, tying the game in the frame. Guerrera led off the inning with a 3-2 double off the fence in left centerfield. That hit would also chase Manhattan starter Kyle Lesler who shut down the Stags through his five innings.
 
After the pitching change, Cullen would walk and both runners would advance into scoring position after a wild pitch. Mike Becchetti came through in the clutch as he lifted a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game.
 
The big inning for the Stags would come in the seventh as Fairfield scored a game deciding five runs. Owen Wosleger began the rally as he reached on an error. Wosleger would steal second and advance to third on a throwing error. After Ryan walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Guerrera connected on another key hit as he launched an opposite field double over the right fielder's outstretched glove, bringing in both runs and giving the Stags the lead. Cullen would single home Guerrera with a grounder through the right side. Becchetti would bring him home with another RBI single. Matt Venuto capped the scoring with a double down the left field line.
 
The Jaspers refused to go quietly adding a solo homer in the seventh. The Stags would respond with a home of their own. Charlie Pagliarini blasted a two-run shot in the ninth to give the Stags an 8-2 lead.
 
Eli Oliphant would notch the save after coming into trouble in the eighth and ending the frame with a 6-4-3 double play.
 
Guerrera led the Stags with seven key RBI in the doubleheader which included a 4-for-8 night with six runs scored. Cullen, Venuto, and Wosleger all added multi-hit games with Wosleger's coming in his first start with the Stags.
 
With the wins, the Stags extended their perfect record to 25-0 (the Stags are 26-0 in the MAAC standings, with the NCAA counting the Saint Peter's forfeit as a 'no contest'.)
 
The top-ranked team in the RPI rankings and the lone undefeated team in the country will defend both of those marks when they return home to face Siena for a four game series starting on Saturday with a noon doubleheader.