STONY BROOK, N.Y. -- The Fairfield University softball team came up short in a pair of games on the final day of the Stony Brook Invitational, falling to Bryant University by a 6-1 score and to Stony Brook University by a 6-1 score.
In the opener, Bryant secured a two-run lead off a pair of sacrifice fly balls which were scoring plays set up by a pair of infield singles. The Bulldogs doubled their lead in the third inning without an RBI hit as they brought home their third run with another fly ball to the outfield and the fourth run following an error. Bryant added to its lead with an RBI single in the fourth inning with the team's final run coming home off a wild pitch.
Fairfield averted the shutout when
Sam Merino launched a solo home run in the top of the sixth innings, closing out the scoring.
Karisa Hughen pitched into the fourth inning before
Lacey Olaff entered the game during the fourth inning.
The tournament came to a close after Fairfield's 6-1 setback against the host school as Stony Brook opened the game with five runs in its first at-bat and never looked back in securing their second win over Fairfield in as many days. Riley Craig provided the key hit in the inning for the Seawolves, hitting a three-run home run that pushed the score from a two-run advantage to a five-run edge.
The Stags put their run on the board in the fifth inning, a rally which began with
Mikayla Rubin lifting a double to left center field. She crossed home plate when
Lauryn Rhinehart lashed a single between second base and shortstop to bring the score to 5-1. Stony Brook collected its five-run lead back with a single run in the seventh inning which was recorded following an RBI double from Chloe Vangorder.
Fairfield will play its first home game of the season on Tuesday when it hosts Seton Hall University at Alumni Softball Field. The game is scheduled for a 3 pm start.
