LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. -- The Fairfield University softball team showed some offensive promise this afternoon but Siena College rallied to win the first game and held for a victory in the second contest, handing the Stags a 5-4 walk-off setback in the opener before falling by a 4-2 count in the nightcap.

Head Coach Julie Brzezinski could not ask for a faster start in the opening game as leadoff hitter Haley Updegraff launched a solo home run over the left-center field fence to give the Stags an instant lead. The Saints tied the game in the bottom of the inning when an errant throw to first base allowed Siena to score its first run of the day.

The game remained tied until third inning when Kaitlin Hoffman ripped a two-run double which scored Ella Watson and Updegraff. Watson entered the game as a pinch runner after Mikayla Rubin recorded an infield single. Updegraff also singled in the inning to put the two runners on base that provided Hoffman with the run-scoring opportunity. Megan Forbes was responsible for the final run in the inning when she stroked a solo home run that brought the lead to 4-1.

Siena responded with a run in the bottom of the third inning when the team coupled a base hit with a fielder's choice to put a runner at third base. The Saints scored when a grounder was not handled by the Stags infield, bringing in the second unearned run of the game. The home team tied the game once again with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, pushing the score to 4-4. The Saints finished off the game with a walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh inning, turning a pair of singles into the deciding run.

Katie Kudlacik went the first five innings and surrendered four runs, only two of which were earned, by scattering five hits and fanning four hitters before yielding to Sam Linday. Lindsay pitched one-plus innings before surrendering the two hits in the seventh inning.

In the nightcap, Siena scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a three-run home run off starter Bailey Taylor. The Saints added a run in the bottom of the second inning as well, registering an RBI single that pushed the advantage to 4-0.

The Stags tried to rally during the game and pushed two runs home in the third inning, both crossing the plate following an RBI single from Hoffman. Fairfield had several opportunities to put more runs on the scoreboard, putting runners on base in three of the final four innings but could not manage any more runs.

Fairfield will return to action on Wednesday when the Stags travel to UConn for a single game on Wednesday, April 13. Game time is 6 pm.