FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- With two swings of the bat, sophomore
Lauryn Rhinehart determined the outcome of the Fairfield University softball team's first game against Manhattan College. The first baseman launched a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning and sent a single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Stags a walk-off win over the Jaspers, a 5-4 decision at Alumni Softball Field. She nearly pitched her teammates to a win in game two but Manhattan posted two runs in the top of the sixth inning to come away with a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
Fairfield scored the game's first run in the opener as
Amanda Ulzheimer and
Alisha Marshall opened the inning with a single each, putting runners at first and second.
Mikayla Rubin advanced the runners with a ground out, setting up
Kaitlin Hoffman's sacrifice fly that put the score at 1-0. The Jaspers tied the game in their next at-bat with three walks, the last of which forced home the equalizer.
The game remained tied until the top of the fourth when the visitors put together a three-run rally highlighted by Dominique Palagruto's two-run double that gave the Jaspers what appeared to a secure lead. But Fairfield was able to chip away at that deficit, beginning in the fifth inning.
Tahlia Brown started the frame with a pinch hit single and would come around to score when Rubin's went over the center fielder's head for a two-base hit.
In the sixth inning, Fairfield tied the game with a one-out rally that started with
Sam Merino working out a base on balls. Rhinehart stepped into the batter's box and promptly sent a pitch over the center field fence for a two-run homer which knotted the game at 4-4. The game would remained tied until the bottom of the eighth inning when
Sam Merino was hit by a pitch for the second time. She stole second base to set up Rhinehart's heroics, a base hit between second and short that allowed Merino to come home unchallenged.
Katie Kudlacik earned the victory with four innings of relief, the third pitcher in the game.
Karisa Hughen earned the start and lasted into the second inning before
Lacey Olaff was called out of the bullpen. She remained in the game for just over two innings before Kudlacik finished the game. She allowed just three hits and struck out four batters in earning the victory.
The second game was played at a much quicker pace as neither team managed a hit through the first two innings before Manhattan broke through with a base hit in the third inning. The Jaspers added two more hits in the fourth but the game remained scoreless as the first 10Fairfield batters were retired by starting pitcher Kayla McDermott.
Alisha Marshall broke up the no-hit bid with a single down that a diving third baseman stopped but could not complete the play.
The Jaspers took the lead in the fifth inning off a home run from Lauren Pitney, but the lead was short-lived as Fairfield plated both of its runs in the bottom of the inning. Merino and Rhinehart began the inning with a base hit, setting the scene for the rest of the lineup.
Drew Westford laid down a perfect bunt that advanced the runners to scoring position with one out.
Maria Telle brought the first run home as a pinch hitter as her grounder allowed the run to come home and for all other runners to be safe. Brown followed with another fielder's choice that pushed the Stags in front, 2-1.
Manhattan responded with two more runs in the top of the sixth inning, using a hit and taking advantage of an error to send home the deciding runners.
The Stags return to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Sunday when they host Quinnipiac University at Alumni Softball Field. The game is slated for a noon start.
