Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Sarah Minice struck out six hitters and allowed just three hits to lead the Fairfield University softball team to a 2-1 win over Iona College in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament. The top-seeded Stags will play third-seeded Marist College on Friday morning at 11 am in a winners bracket game. Second-seeded Manhattan College will take on fourth-seeded Iona College in the losers bracket game at 1 pm.

Minice was nearly flawless in the game, giving up only a lead-off homer in the second inning to Alyssa Maiese. The senior pitcher retired the side in order three times and sent down the final seven hitters she faced in the game. She improved to 17-8 overall and 12-1 against MAAC opponents.

The Stags scored both their runs in the fourth inning, a rally which started when Kristen Filicia started the inning with a single up the middle. Mikayla Shumate grounded out to second with Filicia in motion, putting a runner on second base with one out. Lauren Liseth advanced the runner with a grounder to shortstop, and was ruled safe when the throw sailed wide.

Kristina Lingo drove home the run with a grounder back to the pitcher, but another error allowed Liseth to continue to third base. Alli Wigand picked up a bunt base hit that pushed the second run home, giving the Stags a 2-1 lead.

Fairfield threatened again in the sixth inning when Filicia led off the inning with a base hit.  She went to second when Shumate grounded out, and continued on to third when Liseth rolled a ball to shortstop. She was stranded when the third out was recorded on a grounder to the left side of the infield.

Each team racked up three hits in the game and left two on base in a game that took an hour and 18 minutes.

2011 MAAC Softball Tournament
Host:  Marist College (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)

Thursday, May 12
Game 1 - Marist 4, Manhattan 3
Game 2 - Fairfield 2, Iona 1

Friday, May 13
Game 3 - #1 Fairfield vs. #3 Marist - 11 am
Game 4 - #2 Manhattan vs. #4 Iona - 1 pm
Game 5 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 3 pm

Saturday, May 14
Game 6 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 - Noon
Game 7 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 (if necessary) - 2 pm