Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The sixth inning held something special for the Fairfield University softball team this afternoon as the Stags scored the game-winning run in that inning on both ends of today's doubleheader with Iona College. Fairfield drove home three runs in the sixth inning of game one to post a 3-1 victory, and came back with a single run in the bottom of the sixth for a 2-1 decision in the nightcap. The two wins kept the Stags in the hunt for a berth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament, improving their conference mark to 6-4 with the two outcomes.

Fairfield scored all three of its runs in the sixth inning of the opener, erasing a 1-0 Iona lead by putting together three hits and taking advantage of one error. The Gaels posted the game's first run when an errant throw on a double steal allowed Kim Chiapparelli to cross home plate. That run stood until Fairfield started its game winning rally four innings later.

Mikayla Rubin sliced a single through the left side of the infield to lead off the frame. Sam Merino came in as a pinch runner and quickly advanced to third base when Courtney Hankins' bunt was misplayed and allowed both runners to reach scoring position. Angelina McGuire brought home the first run with a single that pushed both runners up one base and made the score 2-1. Drew Westford was next to the batter's box and promptly sent a pitch to the fence in left center field to produce two runs and give a 3-1 lead to the home team.

After the first two runners reached base in Iona's half of the seventh inning, Destinee Pallotto entered the game in relief of Lauryn Rhinehart and retired the next three hitters to protect the lead for her freshman teammate. Rhinehart earned the win by scattering four hits and fanning three while allowing one unearned run in her six innings of work.

Pallotto would play a huge role in the Stags' second win as the pitcher used the strike out to record the first six outs of the game and went on to fan seven more batters for a total of 13 strikeouts. Her lone mistake came in the fourth inning when Tori Danner ripped a solo home run over the left field fence to spot Iona its 1-0 lead. Fairfield came back with its first run in the fifth inning when Rubin got things started with a leadoff walk. Amanda Ulzheimer entered the game as a pinch runner and took second base after Alisha Marshall's sacrifice bunt. Hankins sent a ground ball to shortstop but the infielder misplayed the ball and the result was runners at the corners.

McGuire hit a grounder to second base which produced one out but allowed the tying run to come in home. In the sixth inning, Fairfield took the lead for good with a single run that also came home following an infield error. Fairfield and Iona combined for six hits and five errors in the game with each team registering three hits and Iona holding a 3-2 edge in the miscue department. Pallotto earned her 10th win by going the distance, allowing three hits while walking none.

Fairfield will play a non-conference game on Wednesday when it hosts the University of Hartford for a single game that begins at 2:30 pm.