GREENSBORO, N.C. -- They say it takes a while for hitting to catch up with pitching at the start of a season. With that said, it didn't take very long for the Fairfield University softball team to get caught up as the Stags collected 21 hits and scored 12 runs in a split on the first day of the UNC-Greensboro Invitational. Fairfield earned an 11-2 win in the season opener against the University of North Carolina before falling to the host school in the second game of the day by a 10-1 count.

Fairfield's fast start began from the onset as the Stags put a run on the board in the first inning of the 2020 season. The scoring chance was started with a pair of infield singles from Amanda Ulzheimer and Mikayla Rubin, putting runners on first and second. Both runners moved up a base on a ground out from Lacey Olaff, sending both student-athletes into scoring position. Kaitlin Hoffman brought Ulzheimer home with a single on the left side of the infield, giving the Stags their first lead of the season.

The lead was short-lived however as the Tarheels, which were ranked in the NFCA preseason poll and are still listed among the top 25 in the DISoftball.com poll, plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning that briefly put them ahead. North Carolina took the lead after Zoe Goodman brought home both runners with a double to right center field. Fairfield followed with the tying run in the top of the third inning when Sam Merino took first base after being hit by a pitch and eventually scored on an RBI single from Hoffman.

The Stags took advantage some wildness from UNC's pitching staff as the next two runs cross home plate when Merino and Rubin both drew bases loaded walks that pushed Fairfield in front for good at 4-2. A four-run fifth inning broke the game open after Fairfield turned five hits in the top of the frame into the bevy of runs. Haley Updegraff chased home the first run with a double to record her first collegiate RBI. Tahlia Brown followed with her own RBI hit that made the score 6-2 before Ulzhemier and Rubin contributed an RBI each to close out the fifth inning scoring.

Fairfield ended the game with three more runs in the seventh inning with Hoffman and Olaff both bringing home a run with a ground out. Pitcher Katie Kudlacik earned her first win of the season by tossing seven innings and scattering six hits. She struck out four hitters and walked four batters during her stint in the pitching circle.

The second game saw Fairfield score another first inning run to take an early lead as Merino's single and stolen base set up the rally. Rubin finished the opportunity with a double to left field. UNC-Greensboro took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage three walks and adding a single to bring home a pair of runs. The two runs were the first of 10 unanswered runs for the home team as they ended the game with seven hits. The Stags certainly had their opportunities with their six hits but could not cash in on any of those chances. Fairfield finished the game with 11 runners left on base.

Fairfield will close out their two-day stay at the UNC-Greensboro Invitational on Sunday with a doubleheader against Purdue University. The games are scheduled for 10 am and 12:30 pm.