BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- It became apparent that the Fairfield University softball team brought their bats for their first two games of the 2019 season as the Stags scored 16 runs off 19 hits in a pair of games at the Campbell Stampede. In the opener, the team nearly erased a four-run deficit but ended up falling to Oakland University by a 7-6 score. In the second game, Fairfield posted 10 runs and ended the game in six innings with a 10-1 decision over La Salle University.

The offensive showcase came despite Fairfield spending most of the last few weeks hitting inside because the harsh New England weather was not conducive to much outside play. And, the Stags saw games scheduled for Friday and Saturday washed away with heavy rain in North Carolina. Despite waiting around for the chance to finally play on dirt, Head Coach Julie Brzezinski witnessed her team take to opening day in what looked like midseason form.

"It was great to finally get outdoors and get on dirt," Coach Brzezinski said. "We competed in all facets of the game but especially on offense. Our at-bats were better throughout the day and our defense improved as well and was solid. Our energy level was as expected as we appreciated being outside."

The season started against Oakland University and the opposition scored in its first at-bat to put the Stags behind immediately. The Golden Grizzlies used a lead off single, a walk, and a double to center field to plate the first run of the game. Fairfield battled back immediately by scoring two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Amanda Ulzheimer picked up a hit in the team's first at-bat of the season and eventually worked her way to third base after walks to Sam Merino and Courtney Hankins. All three runners moved up a base following a wild pitch, allowing Ulzheimer to tie the game when she tapped home plate. Lacey Olaff brought home the second run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

In the third inning, one Fairfield error led to two unearned runs and put Oakland back in the lead at 3-2. The Stags battled right back with a single run in the bottom of the inning with Mikayla Rubin hitting a double and Lauryn Rhinehardt ripping a single that chased her teammate home, knotting the score at 3-3. Oakland seemed to break the game open with four runs in the fifth inning with Shannon Carr delivering the big hit, a three-run triple that put the Grizzlies back in front.

Fairfield quickly got back a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning after Merino singled and Hankins cleared the fence for her first homer of the season, making the score 7-5. Merino brought the score to 7-6 after she lined out to left field which allowed Alisha Marshall to tally the team's sixth run of the game. In the seventh inning, Katilin Hoffman stroked a single to put the tying run on base, but the Stags could not bring her home.

In the second game, Fairfield fell behind 1-0 when La Salle scored in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of two errors which played a large role in the game's first run. The Stags would take the lead for good in its half of the fourth inning as La Salle returned the favor by committing a pair of errors. Along with this misplays, Fairfield collected hits from Hoffman and an RBI single from Drew Westford in addiition to an RBI ground out by Madison Robicheau.

The game turned in the sixth inning when Fairfield recorded seven runs in the top of the sixth inning, using six hits to put the game out of reach. Robicheau brough home the first run with an RBI triple and came home one batter later when Westford snuck a grounder through the left side of the infield. Ulzheimer followed with a two-run double that made the score 7-1. Hankins added another run when her fielder's choice was mishandled, while the ninth run was created off a single from Rubin. The game's final run crossed the plate after Hoffman sliced a single to make it a 10-1 game.

Pitcher Karisa Hughen finished the game by inducing a fly ball to the outfield and fanning the final two hitters she faced to post her first win of the season. The senior allowed one hit and no earned runs in her six innings of work, She finished the game with seven strikeouts while walking four hitters.

"Karisa set the tone for us in game two by keeping their hitters off balance and changing speeds," Coach Brzezinski said. "She competed well throughout the their lineup and got better as the game went on."

The Stags will finish off their trip to North Carolina by playing host Campbell University on Monday morning with the first pitch slated for 10 am.