FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Baseball team dropped a 13-inning marathon game against the Rider Broncs with a 9-8 final score. The Stags threatened to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the 13th but would strand the bases loaded.
The Stags would score seven of their eight runs in the third innings, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 7-2 lead. Fairfield sent 10 men to the plate in the inning taking advantage of three Rider errors. The Stags loaded the bases as the first three men reached and would get their first run across the plate with a
Zach Stephenson walk.
Matthew Bucciero had the biggest hit of the frame with a two-run single that gave the Stags the lead at 3-2.
JP Kuczik would add a run-scoring double to increase the Fairfield advantage.
Connor Scanlan got the final RBI hit for the Stags with a single to left that scored Bucciero.
Jake Haarde forced the issue for the defense by putting the ball in play which led to an errant throw that would plate both
Luke Nomura and Kuczik.
Fairfield would hold the lead until the sixth as Rider got a run from a steal of home and a Matt Leahy two-run single that tied the game at 7-7.
The Fairfield bullpen would keep the Stags alive until the late innings led by
Ryan Maiorano who tossed 3.1 scoreless innings allowing just one hit with three strikeouts.
The Broncs would threaten in every inning of the extra inning contest with
Devin Wolff stranding two runners in scoring position in the 12th.
Rider got their two winning runs in the 13th with Kyle Neri chopping a ball just past the drawn in infield that brought in two.
The Stags would not go quietly in the final frame as they started a two-out rally. After
Jake Haarde doubled,
Payten Wawruck and
Zach Stephenson both drew walks to load the bases. Bucciero would be hit by the second pitch of his at-bat to put the game at 9-8.
Fairfield's final hitter worked the count to 3-1 before lifting a pop fly that the right fielder was able to chase down to secure the game.
Kuczik and
Luke Spencer led the team with two hits apiece.
Fairfield will have four more games in their current seven-game homestand when they welcome Columbia to Don and Chris Cook Field on Tuesday at 3pm.