FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The top three hitters in the Fairfield University softball lineup certainly set their teammates up for success this afternoon as the trio posted a combined 11 hits in 21 at-bats and scored seven of the team's 13 runs as the Stags finished their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) weekend with a sweep of Quinnipiac University. Today's results capped a week in which Head Coach Julie Brzezinski's team has seemed to find its way back to its early season form, winning five of six games over the last seven days.

Leadoff batter Amanda Ulzheimer posted five hits in eight at-bats and scored four times while Alisha Marshall added two hits and crossed home plate twice. Mikayla Rubin, the team's number three hitter, stroked four hits in seven at-bats which included a two-run homer that provided the first two runs in the Stags 4-1 win over the Bobcats in the nightcap. And not to be forgotten, sophomore Lauryn Rhinehart continued her weekend by ripping a three-run double that tied the game at 3-3 in the opener, and contributed a four hitter as the pitcher of record in the second game.

The day did not start as the Stags would have liked as Quinnipiac tallied the first three runs on the afternoon including a solo run in the top of the first inning. A pair of singles sandwiched a base on balls that resulted in the Bobcats taking the 1-0 lead off starter Karisa Hughen. The visitors padded their lead with two more runs in the third as Brighid Doubles laced a two-run double that pushed the lead to 3-0. Coach Brzezinski went to the bullpen after the hit and brought freshman Katie Kudlacik into the game.

The freshman worked her magic for the rest of the game, allowing just hit and walking three against two strikeouts during her four-plus innings in the circle. .While the left hander kept the Bobcats from any substantial threats, Fairfield's offense regained its collective stroke and reeled off nine straight runs to take the opener by the 9-3 margin. After Quinnipiac scored its two runs in the top of the inning, the Stags took control with four runs in the bottom half of the third inning. Rhinehart paved the way with her base-clearing double down the left field line that tied the game at 3-3. She came home when Drew Westford drove the ball to left field which resulted in an RBI double.

Fairfield added two more runs in the fourth inning with Alisha Marshall picking up an RBI single that chased Ulzheimer home. The second baseman scored the team's sixth run after Kaitlin Hoffman hit the ball as far as possible with it out leaving the park as her shot collided with the center field fence and made the score 6-3. The Stags added three unearned runs in the sixth inning as an error, a wild pitch, and Maria Telle's RBI single were the catalysts in the inning.

In the second game, Rhinehart looked unhittable early, a fact that she backed up by retiring the first 12 hitters she faced which included retiring eight by strikeout. Her perfect game and no-hit bid went away when Becka Drake drilled a double to right-center field that put a Bobcat on base for the first time. Quinnipiac went quietly in the sixth inning before putting together three straight two-out hits in the seventh to score its only run. 

While Rhinehart was doing her thing in the pitching circle, Fairfield clicked for four runs of its own including a pair in the third inning. Ulzheimer singled to start the frame which set up Rubin's two-run shot over the center field fence that gave Rhinehart the support she needed on this day. Fairfield tacked on a run in the fourth inning when Cynthia Meringer collected a two-out hit, setting the stage for Sam Merino's RBI triple to left field, pushing the score to 3-0. In the sixth inning, Fairfield added its final run of the game when Merino stroked a single, stole second and raced home on Ulzheimer's final hit of the day.

Rhinehart finished the day with 10 strikeouts without walking a batter to earn her fourth win of the season. 

Fairfield will return to non-conference play for one day when it heads to Boston College for a Wednesday afternoon game before hosting four more MAAC games next week. The Stags will welcome Canisius to Alumni Softball Field on Saturday for a pair of game beginning at noon and Niagara on Sunday for a doubleheader at 11 am.