FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team will resume its road trip on Tuesday when the team heads to Iona College. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday but the games were moved due to an inclement weather report.
The Stags are coming off a split in Buffalo last Saturday, winning the opening game by a 3-2 score before falling in extra innings by a 10-9 count. The final two games of the four-game slate were washed out due to rain. Pitcher
Lauryn Rhinehart earned her third win of the season in the first game, scattering five hits and fanning five batters.
Sam Merino hit a seventh-inning home run to give Fairfield a 3-0 lead which ended up being the deciding run. In the second game, both teams held a four-run lead but saw the other team battle back.
Drew Westford helped the Stags build a 4-0 advantage early with a three-run home run.
Mikayla Rubin, who registered three hits in the Canisius doubleheader, leads the team in hitting with a .444 batting average based on a team-best eight hits in 18 at-bats. She also is one of the team co-leaders with two home runs, joining Westford for the designation.
Lacey Olaff is next in line with a .429 hitting percentage which she earned with six hits in 14 at-bats. In addition to her three wins, Rhinehart owns a 1.43 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched, averaging 5.4 strikeouts per game.
Iona College looks to improve on its 6-2 overall and MAAC records after starting the season by winning three of four games against both Niagara University and Siena College. The Gaels have scored four or more runs in six of their eight games including all four of its games at Siena last weekend, .Iona had won five straight games before falling in the series finale against the Saints.
Jessica Chilcott leads the team in hitting with a .429 batting average, recording a team-leading 12 hits and 10 runs scored in eight games played. She has four of the team's 10 home runs and also has a team-high 10 RBI. Ciarra DiGuilio joins Chilcott as one of the team's student-athletes who have appeared in all eight games this season. She owns a .333 batting average with 10 hits in 30 at-bats. She has five extra base hits, stroking four doubles and one home run with seven RBI. Kara Zazzaro accounts for five victories from the pitching circle, completing all four of her starts. She has 49 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched with a 3.29 ERA.
Following Tuesday's twin bill in New Rochelle, the Stags are scheduled to return home for a four-game set with Niagara University. The Stags will host the Purple Eagles on Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3 before completing the mid-week series with Iona on Tuesday, April 6 at Alumni Softball Field. The two teams will begin their doubleheader at 2 pm.
