LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- The final weekend of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play sent the Fairfield University softball team south to the Garden State. Today, the Stags opened the two-day stay with a doubleheader against Rider University and the two teams each secured a shutout. Fairfield collected the first game with a 5-0 decision behind the fine pitching of Lauryn Rhinehart. Rider rebounded with an 8-0 decision in the second game as the Stags managed just four hits over the six-inning contest.

Today also marked the return of senior Courtney Hankins, who took advantage of the playing time by registering three hits in the two games. In her first game back, Hankins recorded two hits including a double and added a hit in three at-bats during game two. 

The first game belonged to Rhinehart who allowed just two hits during her seven-inning stint, surrendering a hit in the fifth and sixth innings. She walked the first hitter she faced in the game but proceeded to retire 13 consecutive batters before a Rider student-athlete reached off an error in the fifth frame. She struck out five hitters and walked three batters during her complete-game performance.

Fairfield opened the scoring in the second inning as Sam Merino stroked a one-out double and moved to third off Cynthia Meringer's single. Both runners moved up a base following a wild pitch, providing Rhinehart with a 1-0 lead. Drew Westford reached base with an infield single, putting a pair of runners on base. Amanda Ulzheimer sliced a single down the left field line, one of her three hits in the game, to double up the advantage at 2-0.

In the third inning, the Stags tacked on a run with Merino being in the middle of the rally once again. The outfielder drew a two-out walk and stole second to put herself into scoring position. Meringer came to the plate and garnered another base hit, this one chasing home Merino with the third run. The team's final two runs scored off outs as Lacey Olaff's sacrifice bunt plated the fourth run while Westford's ground out closed the scoring at 5-0.

The second game saw the Stags' offense struggle as the team managed just four hits over the six innings. After going in order to start the game, Hankins led off the second inning with a single. The next three Fairfield hitters were retired with ground outs to end any second-inning threat. Westford opened the next inning with a single but in the same fashion as the previous inning, Fairfield went down in order after that base hit. Hannah Futo was responsible for the Stags' only extra base hit of the game, a double in the sixth inning.

Fairfield will finish up the regular-season portion of its schedule on Saturday with a doubleheader at MAAC co-leader Monmouth University. The Stags are fighting for one of six berths to the 2019 MAAC tournament next week and currently are in the top six after today's split.