BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Fairfield University softball team dropped its first game in the double elimination round of the 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Softball Championship this afternoon, a 2-0 decision to Manhattan College. The tournament is being played on the campus of second-seeded Canisius College.

              The Stags had trouble making contact with the softball this afternoon, picking up just two hits while striking out 13 times. When Fairfield managed to record a base hit, it turned the base runner into a legitimate scoring threat.

              In the bottom of the second inning, Lacey Olaff started the inning with a drive to right field that skipped past a diving outfielder and rolled to the fence. Olaff turned the hit into a triple to set up the game's first scoring opportunity. Manhattan pitcher Nicole Williams collected a strike out and a line out from the next two Fairfield hitters before walking Madison Robicheau to put runners on the corner. Williams ended the inning with another strike out, one of her 13 recorded during the afternoon.

              While Williams worked some magic for Manhattan, Fairfield starting pitcher Allie Bridgman was equally effective. The freshman gave up a single and a walk in the first inning before retiring 11 straight hitters to keep the Jaspers from mounting any kind of momentum.

              Fairfield made another run at scoring in the third inning with a two-out rally. After the first Stags fanned, Mikayla Rubin worked out a walk and went to third after Kaitlyn Hoffman lined a single to right center field to place runners at first and third for the second straight inning. Hoffman stole second base to put two runners in scoring position but another Williams strike out ended the rally.

              The Jaspers finally broke through against Bridgman when she was touched up for a run in the fifth inning. After inducing a line out from the leadoff hitter, the freshman pitcher surrendered a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases. Head Coach Julie Brzezinski went to her bullpen and brought Bailey Taylor into the game. She picked up an out from the next batter before Annie Moore lined a single to center field to bring home the game's first run. Sam Merino fielded the ball and threw a strike to home plate to cut down a second Manhattan runner who tried to score, ending the inning for Fairfield with only a one-run deficit.

              Manhattan added an unearned run in the seventh inning which made Fairfield's comeback hopes a little more daunting. Evie Wright reached first base as the lead off hitter after an outfield error allowed her to secure the base. However, Williams finished off her victory with a line out and two more strikeouts to send the Stags into an elimination game against host Canisius on Friday morning. First pitch is slated for 11 am.

              The Stags need to win that game in order to make it to the next elimination game which is scheduled for 5 pm against the loser of the winner bracket game between Manhattan and eighth-seeded Marist College.