FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- It took one extra inning but the Fairfield University was able to put together another come-from-behind victory this afternoon, outlasting Sacred Heart University by a 3-2 score in eight innings. The Stags have won three straight since last Saturday's split with Canisius and have posted a victory in 10 of their last 11 dates.

Today, the visitors received a career performance from pitcher Olivia Vadas, who went into the seventh inning for the first time this season. She also registered a season-best 10 strikeouts against the Stags, keeping the home team off balance for several innings. It wasn't until the fourth inning that Fairfield was finally able to scratch out a run against the junior. The Pioneers scored two runs off of three hits against Sam Lindsey, who was equally effective through the first three innings. 

The two-run advantage was cut to one in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Stags put together a small rally off just one hit. Kaitlin Hoffman started the rally with walk before sprinting to third base after Megan Forbes picked up a hit through the right side of the field. Forbes stole second base to put two runners in scoring position, but no more hits were required for the team's first run when Hoffman crossed home plate following a wild pitch.

The Stags tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-out rally that produced the team's second run. After a pair of strikeouts, Head Coach Julie Brzezinski went to the bench and placed Kasey Sekula into the batter's box. The third baseman launched a ball off the left-center field fence for a double and came home when Haley Updegraff earned a base hit that knotted the score at 2-2.

In the top of the eighth inning, the two teams went to the international tie breaker rule which places a runner on second base to start an inning. Pitcher Bailey Taylor kept the Sacred Heart runner from coming home in the top of the eighth inning, giving the Stags one more chance to win the game in walk-off fashion.

Sekula was placed on second base and was promptly moved up when Ella Watson laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third base. Madison Robicheau was inserted into the game as a pinch runner for Sekula, a move which yielded a run when Charli Warren ended the game with a base hit through the right side of the infield.

Taylor earned her third win of the season by pitching the final four innings of the game, giving up four hits and striking out three with surrendering a run. Forbes finished the game with three hits, all singles, to pace the Fairfield offense.

Fairfield gets back to action on Wednesday when it travels to Army-West Point for a 6 pm game. After Wednesdays game, the Stags will return to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a doubleheader at Iona College on Saturday.