WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team's eight-game win streak is impressive enough. But add in the fact that not one of the games have come on Alumni Softball Field and you can see that a streak of this nature takes a certain resolve. Today, the Stags swept the University of Hartford softball team with 10-0 and 6-5 decisions to improve their overall record to 11-3.

                "Our key so far has been the ability to hit consistently throughout the lineup," Head Coach Julie Brzezinski said. "That, along with solid pitching and defense, has kept us in games. We are starting to show a little more power but overall we have a strong ability to put the ball in play hard."

                The Stags certainly showed their ability to hit the long ball with three home runs this afternoon, including one from Sam Merino, Mikayla Rubin, and Kaitlin Hoffman. But it was the team's timely hitting all day long that really provided Fairfield with the offensive punch that was necessary to secure a sweep.

                In the first game, the Stags plated five runs in the first two innings, beginning with Rubin's sacrifice bunt that chased Amanda Ulzheimer home with the team's first inning run. The second inning was more productive as four runs were added to the team total, beginning with Cynthia Meringer's RBI infield single to third base. Tahlia Brown's three-run double highlighted the four-run splash, clearing the bases with her drive to left center field.

                "Tahlia is a gamer," Coach Brzezinski said. "She enjoys the intensity and the challenge of a pressure filled moment."

                The fifth inning resulted in two more runs for Fairfield, a rally that started with a leadoff double by Courtney Hankins. She eventually scored off Maria Telle's ground out to second base, raising the advantage to 6-0. Merino tacked on another run with a solo homer, her first round tripper of the season.

                Fairfield ended its scoring in game one with a three-spot in the sixth inning with Hankins drawing an RBI walk, Rubin launching a sacrifice fly to center field, and Telle pushing a single up the middle that made the score 10-0.

                Karisa Hughen went the distance by scattering four hits while and registering five strikeouts with her six innings of work.

                "I'm proud of the team for putting the opposition away early in game one and not allowing Hartford back in it," Brzezinski said. "Karisa kept the opposition off balance with her change of speeds throughout the game."

                The second game had a similar ring as the opener as the Stags opened up a big lead early in the contest. The difference in the nightcap came in Hartford's ability to forge a comeback that nearly erased Fairfield's initial 6-0 lead.

                The Stags began the game with four runs in the first inning, a rally that started with Ulzheimer's leadoff single. After a fly ball to center, Hankins ripped a double to center field that easily scored Ulzheimer from first base.

                Rubin followed up with a two-run homer that cleared the center field fence that pushed the lead to 3-0. Hoffman completed the Stags back-to-back combo with her long fly ball that went over the left field fence, providing starting pitcher Katie Kudlacik with a 4-0 edge before she stepped into the circle.

                A pair of singles in the third inning provided the left-handed hurler with a 6-0 lead as Lauryn Rhinehart and Merino each brought home a run with a base hit.

                The Hawks found a way to break through against the Stags when the home team used a three-run double in the fifth and an RBI double followed by a run-producing single to come within a run at 6-5 in the seventh inning. Kudlacik managed to induce a fly out before collecting a strike out to end the game.

                "Today both teams battled the cold and the field conditions," Brzezinski said. "WE got on the board early but unlike game one we couldn't put the opposition away. Katie pitched well in the first half of the game and fought the rest of the way. We left a lot of runner on base late in the game but came up big defensively when we needed it."

                The Stags will play four games next week, all on the road, when they head to Villanova on Tuesday followed by a twin bill against Delaware State and a single game with Lafayette.