BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Fairfield University softball team earned a split in its first road series of 2021, winning the first game but falling in extra innings in the second game against Canisius College. The Stags posted a 3-2 win in the opener, never trailing in the game, before dropping a 10-9 decision in eight innings as both teams held leads of two or more runs in the game.

In the opener, both starting pitchers were nearly flawless as Canisius right hander Megan Giese did not allow a hit through the first four innings while Fairfield right hander Lauryn Rhinehart did yield a base hit until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Stags broke through in their half of the fifth inning which not only resulted in their first hits of the game but also the first two runs of the afternoon. Sam Merino brought home the first run with an RBI single and later scored the second run when Mikayla Rubin sent a single to left field.

Fairfield added a third run in the top of the seventh when Merino launched a home run over the right center fence, a run that would prove quite important for the visiting team. Canisius put together a seventh-inning rally which was capped by Morgan Altman who drove a two-run homer over the left center field wall. Rhinehart managed to get out of the inning with a strikeout for the third out.

The second game was more offensive oriented as the two teams combined for 19 runs and 22 hits, 15 of those coming off the Golden Griffs bats. Fairfield plated the first four runs of the game, sending one runner across home plate in the first inning before adding three more runs in the third frame. Alexa Ortman provided the game's first run with a solo home run before Drew Westford padded the advantage with a three-run home run. 

Canisius answered the fast start with eight straight runs, registering four runs in the fourth inning and another four runs in the fifth inning . Five of the Canisius eight runs came off home runs, a two-run shot by Sue Vi in the fourth and a three-run blast by Sydney Costan. Fairfield battled back to regain the lead at 9-8 with the first three runs of the comeback resulting from two errors. The Stags tied the game in the top of the seventh as Mikayla Rubin cleared the center field fence for a home run. 

In extra innings, Fairfield grabbed the lead when Haley Updegraff stole home as part of a double steal that set the Stags in front for the second time. Canisius erased the deficit in its half of the inning, using a pair of singles to drive home a pair of runs to win the game 10-9.

Fairfield and Canisius will return to the softball diamond on Sunday for two more games to complete the four-game series. The first pitch is set for 12 pm.

The Griffs