FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team picked up its fourth Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) sweep of the season behind a combined six hits and four RBI from freshmen Mikayla Rubin and Drew Westford. The Stags won the opening game by a 5-3 count as pitcher Destinee Pallotto went the distance to earn her 11th win. Fairfield followed up with a 4-1 decision in the second contest as Lauryn Rhinehart evened up her record at 5-5 with the victory.

The home team found itself trailing early in the first game as the Broncs grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning after pitcher Elyse Cuttic ripped a two-run double to left-center field, giving herself an early advantage. Fairfield wasted little time in taking the lead away from the visiting team as it combined as Hankins, McGuire, and Westford each stroked an RBI single in succession to make the score 3-2 after three innings. Pallotto seemed poised to make that lead stand although she gratefully took two more insurance runs to pad her lead. Rubin brought home a run in the fourth inning with a base hit, while Kate Robinson's RBI double was responsible for the team's fifth run.

Pallotto threw the complete game by striking out six batter and yielding 10 hits and two walks to improve her overall record to 11-8. 

The Stags reversed roles in the second game by taking a first-inning lead with a single run that was produced by Westford's bloop single to left field that chased home Alisha Marshall. Marshall reached base with a fielder's choice after Rubin led off the inning with base on balls. That run stood firm for nearly the entire game as Rhinehart kept the Broncs off balance for nearly the entire game. Rider finally found a way to tie the game in the sixth inning, plating one run after loading the bases with nobody out. The team's first run was brought home on a ground out to shortstop from Rachael Zeides, but the game was change hands once again in the bottom of the inning.

Fairfield took advantage of a couple of hits and some poor defense to push across three runs in its half of the sixth inning to take the lead for good at 4-1. Cynthia Meringer, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in right field at the top of the inning, led off the bottom of the frame with a single. She went to second after Sam Merino dropped a sacrifice bunt, setting her up on scoring position. Meringer crossed the plate off Rubin's squeeze bunt that made the score 2-1. Courtney Hankins brought home the third run with a single to left field with the fourth run coming home after the ball skipped by the fielder to make the score 4-1.

Rhinehart allowed a leadoff single to start the seventh inning but quickly disposed of the next three batters to close out the Fairfield win.

The Stags will return to the diamond on Sunday when they host Siena College for another doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 12 pm. Before the game, the Fairfield community will celebrate senior day for the team's five graduating student-athletes, namely Makenna DiGuilio, Angelina McGuire, Destinee Pallotto, Kate Robinson, and Rachel Sieber.