HAMDEN, Conn. -- If there is one thing that stands out during the Fairfield University softball team's current five-game winning streak, it would have to be the Stags' ability to score runs. Over the team's current run, Fairfield is averaging nearly eight runs per game including today's 5-2 and 10-6 sweep of Quinnipiac University on the road. The victories further entrench the Stags in the upper half of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with an 11-5 mark and improved their overall slate to 21-24.

The Stags found themselves trailing early in game when the home team grabbed the lead with a single run in the second inning of game one, a run that scored after Lexi Courtney sent an RBI triple to the gap. The lead was momentary as Fairfield pushed four runs across the plate in its next at-bat, the first two coming home on an RBI double by an RBI double from Makenna DiGuilio. The extra base hit chased home Courtney Hankins, who singled to reach base, and Angelina McGuire, who reached on an error. Kate Robinson was the next batter and quickly improved on her team's lead with a two-run home run that sent starting pitcher Destinee Pallotto back to the circle with a 4-1 lead. 

The senior had little trouble holding the lead as she surrendered just three hits over the next three innings and put down the side in order twice to keep her team in the lead. The Stags added one more run to their total when DiGuilio touched the dish after an error in the outfield, making the score 5-1. Quinnipiac put together a rally in its final at-bat, a rally started with Miranda Magana's double which yielded a run off a single from Rebecca Drake.

Pallotto worked her way out of the seventh-inning jam and ended the inning with a strikeout and fly out to make it a 5-2 final. The right-hander earned her 13th win of the season after striking out eight hitters while allowing one walk in her seven innings of work.

Fairfield scored early and often in the second game, registering its double-digit run total by coming home at least once in each of the first six innings. The Stags scored a pair of runs in both the first and second innings to set the tone for the nightcap. Mikayla Rubin, who would pick up four hits in the game, ran home with the game's first run when an error on a stolen base attempt provided Robin with the chance to score a run. Kate Robinson ripped an RBI single to double up the lead to 2-0, bringing home Angelina McGuire.

The lead was improved to 4-0 in the top of the second as Rubin brought home the team's third run with an RBI single. Fairifield's fourth run was a result of Courtney Hankins' ground out to the right side of the infield. The Bobcats battled back for three runs in their half of the third inning as Courtney delivered the impact hit of the inning. The senior launched a two-run triple to right-center field to put her team back in the hunt at 4-3.

Rubin played a role in rebuilding the Stags' lead back, scoring a run on a wild pitch and driving home a pair of runs with a two-run single in the fifth inning to make the score 8-3 in Fairfield's favor. After Quinnipiac registered three runs in its half of the fifth inning, Fairfield closed out the scoring when Hannah Futo stroked an RBI single and Sam Merino added an RBI double in the top of the sixth inning.

Lauryn Rhinehart earned the win by pitching seven innings of nine-hit softball and fanning four hitters on the way to her sixth win of the season. 

The Stags will finish up the regular season next weekend when they travel to Niagara University and Canisius College for a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.