Box Score DeLAND, Fla. -- The Fairfield University softball team rallied to tie the game but ended up falling short as Stetson University scored a walk-off win with a single run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Four different Stags registered a hit in the game led by Sam Merino's two singles.

The Hatters opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, putting together three hits in the inning that put the home team in the lead. A leadoff single, a stolen base, and a run scoring single comprised the first lead of the game. Stetson added an RBI double later in the inning to grab a 2-0 edge off pitcher Lauryn Rhinehart. 

Fairfield set up its first run of the game when Tahlia Brown worked out a walk to begin the third inning. Madison Robicheau contributed with a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher that enabled Brown to move up a base. Amanda Ulzheimer stroked out a single to put runners on the corners before Sam Merino eventually plated the team's first run with single up the middle. 

The Stags tied the game in the bottom of the fifth after Robicheau opened the inning with a double to place a runner in scoring position. After the batter was called for being out of the batter's box, Merino followed with her second hit of the game, an RBI single to right field. Merino tried to get into scoring position herself but was thrown out attempting to steal for the first time this season.

Stetson tallied the winning run in the seventh inning without registering a hit as a pair of walks set up the scoring opportunity. After a fly ball advanced the lead runner to third base, the Hatters won the game when a ground ball was misplayed and allowed the deciding run to cross home plate.

Fairfield will continue its Florida trip with a doubleheader against Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday with first pitch slated for 1 pm.