FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team will have to wait one more day to start its regular-season ending weekend. The Stags' doubleheader with Manhattan College was supposed to start the weekend but the call for inclement weather on Saturday forced the teams to move the twin bill to Monday, May 9. Fairfield will still host Quinnipiac University on Sunday with the game time being pushed to 1 pm rather than the original scheduled 12 pm start. Sunday will also serve as Senior Day for the softball program.
Head Coach
Julie Brzezinski continues to watch her team win games even in some of the most unlikely scenarios. Most recently, the Stags scored four runs in their final at-bat against Sacred Heart University to turn an early 4-0 deficit into an 8-5 victory on the road last Tuesday afternoon.
Madison Robicheau stroked a two-run single while
Charli Warren added a two-run double in the seventh-inning rally. The outcome marked Fairfield's seventh straight win and 15th in the last 16 dates. And, the Stags pushed their overall record to over .500 at 21-20.
Warren took over the team lead in hitting with her recent surge in the batter's box, holding a .336 hitting percentage which eclipsed outfielder
Haley Updegraff's mark of .333. The freshman also has a grasp on the team's top spot for stolen bases, swiping 14 out of 15 attempts so far. Updegraff maintains her team lead for extra base hits, sporting 14 which is comprised by 10 doubles, a triple, and three home runs.
Kaitlin Hoffman represents the team's top run producer with 26 RBI in addition to scoring 16 runs.
Katie Kudlacik anchors the pitching staff with her 8-3 overall record which is buoyed by her three shutouts and 3.06 ERA.
Lauryn Rhinehart has also seen a great deal of action against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) pitching, owning a 4-5 overall mark this season.
Quinnipiac looks to add to its ledger which currently stands at 12-25 overall and 5-11 in MAAC play after dropping a pair of games to Iona last Sunday. .Gianna Palmisano continues to pace the Bobcats offense with her .319 batting average and .380 on-base percentage. Brooke Hillard is next in line by registering a .292 hitting percentage, stroking a team-best 33 hits over her 37 appearances this season. Sydney Horan has excelled in the pitching circle as illustrated by her seven wins and five complete games. Jaclyn Gonzalez and Taylor Walton each have a pair of wins for the Bobcats pitching staff.
Manhattan has split its last two conference doubleheaders with Saint Peter's and Niagara, putting the Jaspers at 13-30 overall and 7-11 in MAAC play. Lauren Rende and Megan Gillooley are tied for the top spot for hitting as both student-athletes check into the team's final doubleheader with a .338 batting average. Megan Hedlund shows here power prowess with eight home runs and 24 RBI, accounting for nearly one-third of the team's 27 homers. Pitchers Jesse Rising and Ava Metzger each have five victories to their credit and have combined for three shutouts at this time.
Following the Stags' final two doubleheaders, Fairfield will await the pairings for the 2022 MAAC Softball Championship which begins next Wednesday on the field of the regular-season champion. Currently, Canisius College holds the top spot with a 14-4 conference mark with Fairfield right behind based on its 11-5 MAAC slate. Pairings for the MAAC Championship will be announced next week.
