CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Just as they have all season long, the Fairfield University softball staked itself to an early lead and the pitching made it hold up as the Stags posted a 2-1 win over 24th-ranked University of South Florida on Friday afternoon. Pitcher Rebecca Trott went the distance for Fairfield, making two runs in the opening innnings stand.

The Stags opened the game with a run in the first inning, a rally started with a single by Kristen Filicia. The sophomore stole second base and went to third base after Mikayla Shumate reached first on a bunt base hit. Alli Wigand kept the rally going with a single up the middle that sent home Filicia with the game's first run.

Fairfield doubled its advantage in the second inning. Kimi Kurata and Nikki Osofsky started the inning by reaching base on an error. Brianna Levick moved each runner up a base with a sacrifice, putting two in scoring position. Filicia played a role in the second run iwth an RBI single up the middle that made the score 2-0 after an inning and a half.

South Florida broke through in the third inning with two hits in the frame which included a run scoring double with two outs. That would be the only run surrendered by Trott as the sophomore did not allow a hit over the final four innings. She finished the game with two strikeouts and walked five i her complete game victory.

Earlier in the day, Fairfield dropped a 12-1 decision to Northwestern University in five innings. The Wildcats used a couple of big innings to secure the win, starting with a seven-run second inning that included eight hits The Stags tallied its only run in the fifth inning, courtesy of a lead-off home run by Filicia. Northwestern put the game out of reach with five more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, stroking three hits in the inning.