BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Fairfield University softball team saw its season come to an abrupt end when Canisius College scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to erase a one-run deficit and advance in the MAAC Championship with a 3-2 win over the Stags.

              Fairfield put together a better offensive effort this afternoon after coming off a 1-0 setback to Manhattan on Thursday. The Stags were able to put runners on base throughout today's contest but then had difficulty pushing runners across home plate.

              The first of those opportunities came in the top of the third inning after Allie Bridgman secured a walk off an 11-pitch at-bat. After being sacrificed to second base, Megan Forbes collected the team's first hit of the game which also sent Bridgman to third base.  However, the threat ended when the next two hitters were retired on a pop up and a called third strike.

              The team earned another opportunity to score the game's first run when Evie Wright reached on a fielder's choice and secured second base after an error by the shortstop on her attempted steal. Madison Robicheau followed with a base hit to provide the Stags with another first and third situation with one out. Once again, the Stags were unable to score the run when the next two batters were sent down on a pop up and a fly ball to the outfield.

              Fairfield broke through in the fifth inning, a rally started with a bunt single from Sam Merino. Forbes continued the rally with her second hit of the game, a single which placed runners on first and third with no outs. Forbes stole second to set up two runners in scoring position which Kaitlin Hoffman cashed in with a double to the left-center field gap to put the Stags in front for the first time, 2-0.

              Canisius did not need long to get back into the game as the host school tallied a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, using a walk, a wild pitch, and a base hit up the middle to plate its first run of the tournament. Pitcher Katie Kudlacik worked her way out of further damage by inducing two ground outs and striking out a hitter.

              After putting down the Golden Griffs in order in the bottom of the sixth, Kudlacik ran into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a leadoff double put the tying run in scoring position, the left hander walked the next two hitters to load the bases with no outs. Head Coach Julie Brzezinski went to closer Brittany Taylor to see if the freshman could work out of the jam. But a walk and a fielding error allowed two runs to come home for Canisius, ending the game in the home team's favor.

              Fairfield finishes the season with a 22-14 record after splitting its four games in the MAAC Championship. The Stags opened the tournament with a sweep of Siena College in the quarterfinals but dropped both games in the double-elimination round over the last two days.