LYNCHBURG, Va. -- An first-inning rally was not enough for the Fairfield University softball team to overcome Elon University on Saturday as the Stags dropped a 6-4 decision to Elon University. The Stags scored in the first inning for the fourth time in six games this season, plating a pair of runs this afternoon.

Fairfield's first inning consisted of two hits but the impactful one came off the bat of freshman Megan Forbes, a solo home run that pushed the Stags into the lead at 1-0. Mikayla Rubin worked out a walk after the homer and came home after Kaitlin Hoffman pulled a pitch down the left field line for an RBI double with one out. A pair of strikeouts ended Fairfield's first at-bat but the team enjoyed a two-run advantage.

Elon put up three runs in its half of the second inning, stringing together four hits to take the lead. After loading the bases with two hits and a walk, the home team tied the score when Carley Davis laced a two-run single that knotted the score at 2-2. The Phoenix took the lead off Rebecca Murray's sacrifice fly to left center field, making the score 3-2.

Fairfield tied the game in the top of the sixth when Tahlia Brown started a rally with a single center field. Lacey Updegraff was inserted into the lineup as a pinch runner and she immediately made it to scoring position off a ground out to the right-side of the infield. After securing third base off a passed ball, Updegraff came home following an RBI single by Hannah Futo.

The Phoenix regained the lead in its half of the inning by plating three more runs to pull in front by a 6-3 count. Elon managed just one hit in the error but took full advantage of three Fairifeld errors during the game-deciding rally. Fairfield scratched one more run in the top of the seventh inning with Sam Merino starting the scoring chance with a lead off single. She moved up a base on a fly ball to right field and collected third base following a wild pitch. Rubin sent home the team's fourth run with a grounder to the right side of the infield, bringing the score to 6-4.

Maddy Wilson pitched five-plus innings for the Stags, allowing four earned runs on six hits before yielding to Sam Lindsay for the final out. 

Fairfield will close out its three-day stay at the Liberty Invitational by taking on Butler University at 10 am and Penn at 12:30 pm on Sunday.