FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team returned to non-conference play this afternoon, hosting Sacred Heart University at Alumni Softball Field. The Stags won the first meeting between the two teams earlier this month, but this game belonged to the Pioneers nearly from the start. A three-run second inning was followed by a four-run fourth and six-run sixth inning which led to the visitors posting a 13-3 decision over the home team in six innings., 

Lacey Olaff earned her first career start today and opened the game with an unblemished first inning by retiring the first three batters of the game. She ran into some trouble during the second inning as the Pioneers put together four hits and took advantage of Fairfield's first error to run three student-athletes across home plate. Fairfield struggled against starter Emily Orosco, managing just one hit in the three innings that she occupied the circle. Mikayla Rubin was the Stag responsible for that hit, a single to left field in the first inning.

Sacred Heart tacked on four runs in the fourth inning, securing the rally against Olaff and reliever Karisa Hughen. The Pioneers needed only one hit to plate those runs but a couple of Fairfield errors were also part of the scoring opportunities. The Stags broke through in their half of the inning as a pair of walks and Rubin's second single set up a run-producing walk by Lauryn Rhinehart. Cynthia Meringer brought home the team's second run with a fielder's choice, cutting the lead to 7-2.

The game remained that way until the Pioneers found their way to six runs in the top of the sixth inning, collecting six hits and a pair of walks to gain a double-digit lead at 13-2. Fairfield scratched across one run in the bottom of the inning, all of which came after two outs were recorded. Maria Telle was called on as a pinch hitter and she sliced a pitch through a hole on the right side of the infield. Sam Merino reached base when the third baseman could not handle her grounder near the bag, putting runners on first and second. Meringer brought home the team's final run when she strategically placed a ball just inside the left field line that brought home Telle from second base.

Fairfield will play its final non-conference game on Sunday when it hosts the University of Hartford for a single game. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 pm. Following the game, the Stags will have six Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) games left on their regular-season schedule, all of which come on the road. 

Prior to Fairfield's game with Hartford, the Fairfield University softball program will honor its senior class with a ceremony. The ceremony is scheduled to start at approximately 11:45 am.