FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team was selected third in the 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll as the organization announced the poll and the preseason All-MAAC team on Thursday. Stags outfielder Charli Warren represented the team on the preseason team, selected as one of 13 student-athletes on the squad.

Warren comes off an stellar freshman season during which she led the team in hitting with an impressive .336 batting average. She played in 45 of the team's 47 games during the 2022 season of which she earned 45 starts in the outfield. Warren led the team with 18 stolen bases (20 attempts) as well as with 11 sacrifice bunts. She paced the program with her .400 on-base percentage, a number aided by her 14 walks. Defensively, Warren made just one error in 61 attempts which translated into a .984 field percentage.

The Stags picked up 88 points in the preseason poll which is based upon the vote of the conference's 11 head softball coaches. Canisius College held down the top spot with 119 points and nine of the 11 first-place votes. Marist was next in line with 102 points, collecting one first-place selection in the poll. Iona and Siena were listed fourth and fifth respectively with 79 and 74 points.

MAAC newcomer Mount St. Mary's University earned 69 points in the poll which placed sixth in the rankings while Rider University stood seventh in the ranking with 64 points. Manhattan College received the final first-place vote which helped it garner eighth place in the poll, followed by Niagara University (38 points), Saint Peter's University (28 points), and Quinnipiac University (22 points).

The Fairfield University softball team, under Head Coach Julie Brzezinski, finished the 2022 season with a 25-22 overall record and earned a berth in the MAAC Championship, a result of the team's 15-5 conference record. The Stags open the 2023 campaign on February 17 when they travel to DeLand, Fla. for a tournament at Stetson University. Fairfield plays Monmouth University and the host school on February 17, the first of five games over the weekend. The Stags home opener is slated for April 1 when they host Rider University in the team's MAAC opener as well.