FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team opened its four-game series with Siena College by splitting the first doubleheader of the two-day match up, winning the opener by a 4-2 count before falling in the second game at 7-0. The results put the Stags overall and MAAC records at 7-5 while the Saints finished the afternoon with a 4-6 mark.

Fairfield opened the day with another fine pitching performance by junior Katie Kudlacik who picked up her third win in as many appearances this afternoon. Today, the right hander scattered four hits over another complete game. She ended the contest with four strikeouts in her seven-inning stint, giving her 32 strikeouts in 22 innings of work. 

The Saints touched up Kudlacik in their first time in the batter's box courtesy of Isabelle DiChiaro's two-out solo home run to center field. The lead would stand up until the Stags came to the plate in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Alexa Ortman picked up an infield hit as she slashed a ball that deflected off the third baseman's glove and caromed to shortstop which allowed her to reach base. Sam Merino followed with a bunt single which would place Ortman on third base as the outfielder never stopped and kept ran right through to the next base.

With runners at the corners, Fairfield pulled off a double steal that would tie the game when Marino drew a throw and Ortman scampered home. Madison Robicheau hit a sharp single to center field that chased Merino to third base, setting up a sacrifice fly to right field by Mikayla Rubin to place the Stags in front for good at 2-1. The Stags added to their lead after Megan Forbes led off with a single, stole second, and came home on Kaitlin Hoffman's double to the left-center field gap, making the score 3-1.

Kudlacik surrendered an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning as a pair of Fairfield miscues contributed to the Saints' second run of the game. Fairfield regained Kudlacik's two-run cushion with a run in its half of the inning when Maddy Wilson drew a bases-loaded walk to force home a run, the second consecutive free pass for Fairfield after Allie Bridgman loaded the bases by being hit by a pitch. Kudlacik walked the first hitter in the top of the seventh but induced three pop ups to the infield to finish out the game and helped the Stags record their seventh win of the season.

In the second game, the Fairfield pitching staff opened the game by issuing multiple walks in the first two innings. In the top of the first, two runners reached base via the walk and both came home to give Siena a 2-0 lead. In the second inning, the first three Siena batters worked out walks and two of those student-athletes scored runs to produce a 5-0 lead after two innings. Yami Evans recorded a two-run hit in the first inning while Sabrina Vargas added another two-run single in the second inning to propel the Siena offense.

The Stags never put together a rally that threatened in the nightcap, managing four hits through the seven-inning contest. Madison Robicheau, Mikayla Rubin, Megan Forbes, and Drew Westford were responsible for the Fairfield singles.

The two teams will come together for another doubleheader on Thursday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 12 pm at Alumni Softball Field.