FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- After playing more than 20 non-conference games, the Fairfield University softball team will open its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) slate on Saturday afternoon. The Stags will travel to Iona College for a 1 pm doubleheader, the first of a two twinbills this weekend. Fairfield will also head to the University of Rhode Island for a pair of games on Sunday afternoon.

The Stags picked up a pair of wins on Wednesday afternoon, as the offense posted 19 runs in the two victories. Kristen Filicia, Kimi Kurata, and Kristina Lingo each posted four hits in the doubleheader with Filicia registering three RBI in the games. Kurata drove home four RBI in the twinbill as she posted a team-high three in game one.

Lingo leads the team with 15 RBI, one of five Stags to have 10 or more RBI on the season. Lauren Liseth, who earned the MAAC Rookie of the Week, places second with 12 RBI while Rae Ball is third among her teammates with 11 runs batted in. Liseth is also the team's top htiter with a .328 batting average, joining Lingo (.302) as the team's only .300 hitters this season.

Sarah Minice has been the team's leader in most pitching categories, owning a team-best 2.21 ERA with a team-high four wins. She has appeared in 11 of the team's 22 games. Rebecca Trott and Rae Ball each have two victories on the campaign.

Iona begins its defense of the MAAC championship which sent it to the NCAA tournament a year ago. Alyssa Maiese leads the team with a .346 batting average, while Katie Jannson is next in line with a .311 hitting percentage. Maiese is responsible for four of the team's 10 home runs, and has 10 total extra base hits (six doubles).

The pitching is handled by Sarah Jackson, who owns a 5-3 overall record which includes a 1-0 win over nationally-ranked Hawaii on March 17. Jackson is allowing 2.09 earned runs per contest and has three shutouts to her credit. Deanne Algeo has a 2.50 ERA in six outings with one start to her credit.

Rhode Island, like Fairfield, has played just one home game despite being on the diamond for 27 games this year. The Rams bring a 3-24 overall record into the doubleheader, which does not include Saturday's game against St. Louis.

Nicole Massoni has played in 26 of the team's 27 games, which has helped her record a team-hgih seven home runs and 15 RBI. Erica Szymanski is next in line with nine RBI and a pair of homers in 20 appearances.

The Stags will play fivehome games next week, beginning with a doubleheader against Columbia University on April 5. Two days later, Fairfield will welcome in-state foe Quinnipiac University for a single game. After heading to Siena College for a conference doubleheader on Saturday, Fairfield finishes up the week by hosting the University of Hartford for a doubleheader on April 10.