BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Griffin Watson drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th and Evan Berta earned the win with three scoreless innings as the Fairfield University Baseball team took down crosstown rivals Sacred Heart 6-5 in 12 innings.
 
Watson's big at-bat came with runners on the corner and one out in the top of the 12th. The graduate student lined a single into center field, scoring Matt Bucciero who led off the inning with a double. Ethan Hibbard advanced Bucciero to third to set up the go-ahead RBI with a bunt single.
 
Berta would make that lead last as he fired a career-high three innings only allowing two walks in picking up the victory. Berta needed just 41 pitches to get through his three frames while striking out three.
 
The Stags had led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but the Pioneers would tie the game on a two-out RBI single by Ryan Donnelly. The Stags would get out of the jam, however, as Ryan Smith struck out the batter with the game-winning run stranded at third.
 
Fairfield got all of their runs with a five-run fifth inning, helped by back-to-back fielding errors on bunts. Noah Lucier brought home two with a two-run double down the left field line. Watson would score on a wild pitch and Charlie Pagliarini would close the scoring with a RBI double.
 
Grant Smeltzer and Emmett Tolis both recorded scoreless outings in relief with Smeltzer throwing two frames and Tolis hurling a hitless eighth inning.
 
Matt Bergevin led the Stags with his second-straight three-hit performance since returning from an injury. Pagliarini and Bucciero also picked up multiple hits in the victory.
 
The win was Fairfield's 26th of the season and clinched a season sweep of their crosstown rivals Sacred Heart.
 
Fairfield will return home to close out their busy week with a pivotal series against Canisius starting on Friday at 3pm.