SHIRLEY, N.Y. -- Tori Reed registered five hits while Sammy Ruffolo added three hits and two RBI as the Fairfield University softball team opened its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) season with a split against Niagara. The Stags won the opener by an 8-2 score but dropped the second game by a 7-1 count.

The Stags fell behind by a run in the first game as the Purple Eagles sent home a runner in the top of the first inning. Fairfield rallied with four runs in the bottom of the third by putting together four hits in the inning.

The key hits belonged to Ruffolo, who punched a two-run single to the opposite field, chasing home Brianna Levick and Angelina McGuire. Sam Frungillo tacked on two more runs with an infield single that was knocked down by the shortstop, allowing Ruffolo and Reed to come home.

The Stags tallied a pair of runs in the fourth and the sixth innings to close out the scoring. Lauren Filicia had an RBI single in the fourth while Shelby Butwell drove a two-run pinch-hit double in the sixth inning. Lauren Falkanger, Nicoile Gardon, and Destinee Pollotto combined for the win in the pitching circle.

In the second game, Niagara posted a five-run seventh inning to pull away from the Stags by a 7-1 count, giving the Purple Eagles their first win of the seasson. Kate Robinson drove home Fairfield's lone run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Fairfield will continue its MAAC weekend by playing a doubleheader against Canisius College on Sunday afternoon. First pitch has been changed to 1 pm. The doubleheader will be played at Golden Lion Field on the campus of Dowling College in Shirley, N.Y.