FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- All Julie Brzezinski wanted was to play games on a consistent basis, After playing just 17 games total through February and March, the Fairfield University head coach knew that consistency and comfort in the batter's box would come when the team could play regularly. The Stags played four games in the last two days and it seems that the team has found that comfort zone with the bats.

The Stags registered 15 hits in today's doubleheader sweep against Rider University, leveling the team's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record at 2-2 with the victories. Fairfield overcame a 5-0 deficit in the opener and posted a 8-7 win and never trailed in a 3-2 win in game two to bring its overall record to 7-14.

"For the most part, I think we are getting where we want to be offensively," Coach Brzezinski said. "We are swinging at better pitches which will only improve as we see more live pitching. I think we still need to work on hitting more quality pitches which will come with as we play more games."

After being shut out twice by 1-0 scores yesterday against Mount St. Mary's, the Stags had difficulty at the start of today's doubleheader as they found themselves down 5-0 going into the bottom of the third inning. But Fairfield hitters seem to find their footing in the batter's box during the bottom half of the third. The Stags sent nine batters to the plate and sent home five base runners to equal things up at 5-5. Delaney Whieldon started the run production with a three-run homer over the left field fence, her first collegiate home run, to bring her teammates with in a pair of runs at 5-3. Haley Updegraff brought home the fourth run with a single while Ella Watson, who pinch ran for Allie Bridgman after her single, tied the game when she scampered home on a wild pitch.

Whieldon put the Stags in front for the first time in the next inning, stroking a base hit up the middle that chased Madison Robicheau with the team's sixth run. Rider regained the lead in the sixth inning with four hits with three singles coming after the second out to push in front of the home team by a 7-6 score. The lead did not last long as Fairfield put together its only two-out rally courtesy of Kaitlin Hoffman's run-scoring single and Whieldon's RBI, sending the Stags to the seventh inning with an 8-7 lead.

Samantha Lindsay entered the pitching circle in the top of the seventh and retired the first batter on fly ball to right field. After hitting the next batter, Lindsay induced a grounder which Robicheau turned into a game-ending double play. Alyssa Weinberg earned the victory in relief of starter Bridgman, tossing 3.2 innings and scattering seven hits in the decision.

The second game brought back the two pitchers who ended the opener in Rider's Jessie Niegocki and Fairfield's Lindsay. The Stags were the first team to break through offensively courtesy of Megan Forbes' two-run single that plated Madison Robicheau and Warren. Rider cut the deficit in half with a single run in the fourth inning, using two hits and an error to touch Lindsay for an unearned run.

Just as it had done for most of the day, Fairfield came right back with a run in the bottom half of the inning. This time, Haley Updegraff launched a solo home run that easily cleared the left field fence to regain the two-run advantage at 3-1. Rider was not ready to surrender in any means though and rallied with two singles and a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to make the lead just one run once again at 3-2.

Weinberg made her second appearance of the day when she took the ball for the seventh inning, coming away with the save after yielding just one hit and collecting a strikeout.

Fairfield goes back to non-conference play on Tuesday night when it travels to the UConn for a single game beginning at 6 pm. The Stags return to the MAAC slate with doubleheaders against Quinnipiac and Manhattan on Friday and Saturday, respectively.