NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University softball team picked up its fifth sweep against a Metro Atlantic Athletic (MAAC) this afternoon with an 11-5 and a 1-0 win at Iona College this afternoon. The Stags held their position in the standings going into the final weekend of conference play, placing second with a 10-6 mark which is one game off Canisius' 11-5 MAAC record.

The two games could have not been more opposite as the first game produced 16 runs and 25 hits while the second contest included just one run and nine hits. The Stags collected just three hits in the 1-0 victory with two of those hits coming in the run-producing 11^th inning.

Both teams were able to put runners on base in the nightcap but it wasn't until the top of the 11^th when one team finally broke through offensively. After Charli Warren drew a one-out walk, Kaitlin Hoffman sent a pitch into the left-center field gap that enabled Warren to score from first base. Megan Forbes followed with a single to shallow right field which prevented Hoffman from scoring the second run.

The Stags pitching was spot on in the one-run decision with Lauryn Rhinehart pitching eight-plus scoreless innings before Bailey Taylor finished up the final two-plus innings to earn the victory. The duo combined to scatter six hits and strike out eight batters.

The opening game provided much more offense, beginning with a four-run top of the first inning for the Stags. The first three batters reached base with a pair of singles and a hit by pitch, setting up an RBI single by Megan Forbes. Rhinehart brought home the second run with a sacrifice fly which Mikayla Rubin followed with an RBI single. Kasey Sekula closed out the inning with an RBI fielder's choice, giving the early lead to Katie Kudlacik.

The Stags added two more runs in the third inning when Forbes laced an RBI triple and later scored on Rubin's RBI bunt. The Gaels worked their way back intoa the game with a run in the bottom of the third and three more runs in the fourth inning.

Fairfield put the game out of reach with five more runs over the final two innings, plating three runs in the sixth inning and two more in its final at-bat. The first two batters were retired in the Fairfield sixth inning before the next four batters registered a hit to bring home the runs. In the seventh inning, the visitors scored their runs on a bases-loaded walk and an error.

Sam Lindsay earned the win by pitching the final three-plus innings, entering the game in relief of Katie Kudlacik who tossed the first 3.2 innings of the game.

Fairfield will prepare for its final week of the regular season which will include five games. The Stags travel to Sacred Heart University on Tuesday before hosting doubleheaders against Manhattan College and Quinnipiac University over the weekend.