NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Both ends of today's doubleheader between Fairfield University and Iona College featured a pair of come-from-behind victories as the Stags and the Gaels split a pair of softball games. Fairfield dropped the first game after Iona scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to post a 5-4 victory. The Stags used a five-run fifth inning to erase a 2-0 deficit to gain a 5-2 win over Gaels to garner the split.

In the first game, Iona broke a scoreless tie with a three-run fourth inning that seemed as though it would hold as Fairfield managed only a lead-off third-inning single by Madison Robicheau through the first four innings. The Gaels scored the first run of the game after a misplay in the infield put Jessica Chilcott at third base. She came home when Natalia Meray sliced a single for the home team's first hit of the game. The next two runs by Iona scored following bases loaded walks that sent the Gaels to a 3-0 lead.

Fairfield entered the top of the seventh with its final chance to rally and the Stags did not disappoint. Singles by Lacey Olaff and Alexa Ortman were sandwiched around Eve Wright's walk to load the bases with two outs. Mikayla Rubin stepped into the batter's box with the hopes of trying to keep the rally going. The infielder made the most of her chance by launching a grand slam over the left field fence to put Fairfield in front for the first time at 4-3.

The Gaels staged their own come back in the bottom of the seventh which started when Chilcott tied the game with a solo home run to left center field. Meray followed with a double and took third base on a ground out to second base. Ciarra DiGuilio ended the game with an infield hit between the pitcher and third base, allowing Meray to beat the throw home and score the winning run. Lauryn Rhinehart pitched six-plus inning for the Stags and fanned a season-high seven strikeouts. Kara Zazzaro went the distance for Iona, fanning nine batters and yielding just four hits.

The second game also featured a rally that resulted in several runs but this time, the Stags ended up with the big inning. Pitcher Katie Kudlacik had a no-hitter through, yielding a pair of walks in the first but sending the Gaels down in order in the second and third innings. Iona picked up a base runner on an infield error, setting up Jasmine Temple's two-run home run to push the home team in front. 

The lead would stand up for pitcher Alyssa DeJianne until the top of the fifth inning when Fairfield found its stroke in the batter's box. Drew Westford and Wright brought home the first two runs with RBI singles which designated player Allie Bridgman followed with a two-run base hit to give the Stags a 4-2 lead. Kaleigh MacDonald pinch ran for Bridgman and came home when Sam Merino drew a bases-loaded walk to close the scoring for both teams.

Kudlacik earned her first win of the season by tossing five innings, allowing one earned run and striking out 10 batters. Bridgman tossed the final two innings to earn her first career save, fanning a pair of Iona hitters. The Gaels used three pitchers in the game with DeJianne taking the setback.