FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the first time since the end of the 2019 season, Head Coach Julie Brzezinski stepped onto the dirt of Alumni Softball Field for a conference game. This was not for a practice or a scrimmage. This was for real. And despite the long layoff from playing an in-season home game, the Stags performed as well as the head coach could have hoped.

              The Fairfield University softball team swept Manhattan College in a season-opening doubleheader, posting an 8-0 shutout in five innings in the opener before weathering a furious comeback bid to complete the day with a 4-3 win.

              The Stags pitchers held Manhattan scoreless for the first 11 innings of the two games with senior Lauryn Rhinehart tossing a three-hit shutout over five innings in the first game. The righthander retired eight straight hitters, a string that started in the first inning.

              After retiring the first two batters of the game on grounders, Rhinehart surrendered a walk. She ended the first inning with a strikeout which touched off the run of eight straight. Manhattan broke through in its half of the fourth inning when Vani Patel and Mars Deemer singled back to back. Rhinehart ended the rally by inducing a double-play grounder started by freshman third baseman Kasey Sekula.

              Rhinehart finished the game with four strikeouts against three hits and a walk in her five-inning complete game.

              "Lauryn has been getting better and better every day in the spring," Coach Brzezinski said. "She is our go to pitcher and she will give us everything she has every time she pitches. She was keeping Manhattan off balance with her change of speed so she was successful today,"

              While Rhinehart dominated from the pitching circle, the Stags offense resembled midseason form with eight runs in just five turns at the plate. A misplayed sacrifice bunt attempted brought home Sam Merino with the first run while Megan Forbes sliced a single that chased home Alexa Ortman with the second run of the inning.

             The Stags broke the game open in the second inning with four runs which was started by Drew Westford's leadoff home run to center field. Ortman brought home Sekula with a ground out to bring the score to 4-0. Mikayla Rubin and Forbes followed with RBI singles to push the advantage to six runs after two innings.

             Fairfield closed out the scoring in the bottom of the fifth when Westford added two more RBI to her line score with a double to right center field.

            The second game was closer on the scoreboard as Manhattan starter Jesse Rising and Fairfield hurler Allie Bridgman locked in a scoreless game through the first three innings. The Stags were the first team to collect a run in the nightcap when Forbes led off the fourth inning with a bloop triple down the right field line. Lacey Olaff followed with a deep fly ball to center that easily advanced Forbes with the game's first run.

             The Stags followed up with two more runs in the fifth inning, a rally started with Madison Robicheau's single. Sam Merino launched a pitch off the base of the center field fence which allowed Robicheau to come all the way around with the team's second run. Merino scampered home when Rubin provided her own RBI double to bring the score to 3-0.

              Fairfield's final run came in the sixth inning which would prove to be the difference in the second game. Pinch hitter Evie Wright drove an infield single to deep short to set up the run. The freshman would eventually score when Robicheau registered a single to bring the score to 4-0.

              Bridgman found some trouble in the seventh inning after tossing six shutout innings. Manhattan used three hits in the inning to score three times and had a base runner on third base with two outs before Bridgman closed out the game with a ground out to secure her first win of the campaign.

             "I think Allie was a little nervous but when she got in a groove she was fine," Coach Brzezinski said. "Her change of levels and her ability to work in and out on batters along with her change of speed kept Manhattan off balance as well. She really hits her spots and has so much movement on her pitches which helps a great deal."

              Fairfield and Manhattan will meet for another doubleheader on Sunday, March 21 at Alumni Softball Field beginning at noon.