BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- The Fairfield University softball team opened up the Campbell Stampede with a pair of wins, edging Georgia Tech by a 4-3 score and shutting out La Salle with a 6-0 result. The Stags have won three straight games and improved their overall record to 3-4 after today's results.

The day did not start the way that Head Coach Julie Brzezinski may have wanted as the Yellow Jackets grabbed the lead in their first at bat, tagging a pair of runs off a two-out single by Katie Krzus. Despite giving up two runs on two hits in the first inning, pitcher Destinee Pallotto settled down and kept Georgia Tech in check until her teammates could rally for runs. That moment came in the bottom of the second inning as Lacey Olaff started things off with a single to right field. Sam Merino took over for Olaff as a pinch runner and immediately took second following Kristen Ball's sacrifice bunt. Angelina McGuire brought the team's first run home with a double to center field, and later came home when McKenna DiGuilio sent a ball to the left-center field gap for another two-base hit.

Fairfield secured its first lead of the game in the fifth inning as DiGuilio reached base with a single through the right side. She took second on a passed ball, and came home when Rachel Sieber's grounder was misplayed by the pitcher. The lead was short lived as Krzus drove a ball over the center field wall to tie the game at 3-3 going to the bottom of the sixth inning. After a lead off strike out, Ball drilled the softball down the left field line and over the fence to push Fairfield back in the lead, 4-3.

Pallotto closed out the game with a strikeout, a pop up, and a ground out, securing her second win in four decisions. She ended the game with seven strikeouts and scattered four hits to aid the Fairfield cause.

In the second game, the Stags reversed roles and jumped out to a first-inning lead with a run in the top of the first inning. After a ground out started the inning, McGuire was hit by a pitch and took first base. The senior stole second base, which opened up first base for a walk to Courtney Hankins. Ball followed with another walk, loading the bases with just one out. Pitcher Lauryn Rhinehart drew a bases loaded walk to force home McGuire and provide the Stags with a 1-0 lead.

Fairfield took complete control of the game with a five-run third inning with McGuire being the catalyst for the rally. The outfielder started the frame with a double to right center field, and promptly stole third base. Courtney Hankins lofted a ball to center field which was misplayed, chasing McGuire home with the team's second run. With Hankins on second base following the error, Ball sent a double to left field that provided a 3-0 lead to the Stags. Olaff was responsible for the team's fourth run, lacing a double to left field that sent Ball home for a 4-0 lead.

After securing the second out of the inning with another strikeout, La Salle pitcher Marlo Roadcap yielded another run when DiGuilio stroked a single to left center field to drive home the fifth run, and then ended up on second on the throw home. She moved up one more base following a wild pitch and came home on the front end of a double steal try. While Mikayla Rubin, who walked earlier, was thrown out, she was able to keep the play alive so that DiGuilio could scamper home with the final run of the game.

Rhinehart made those runs stand as the freshman allowed just two hits, walked two, and struck out 11 hitters to earn her first collegiate shutout. 

Fairfield will finish up the two-day Campbell Stampede by taking on Georgia Tech on Saturday at 10 am before finishing up with the host school at 3 pm.