FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team will state in the State of Connecticut for a pair of games this week, traveling to Central Connecticut State University on Wednesday before heading to Sacred Heart University on Thursday.
The Stags moved up their home opener when they added Boston University for a doubleheader which was played last Saturday at Alumni Softball Field. Boston University won both ends of the twin bill which helped the Terriers earn votes in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Coaches Poll. Now, Fairfield will begin a stretch which keeps the team local as it embarks on a four-game stretch against Connecticut-based schools. After this week's action, the Stags will continue the in-state run against the University of Hartford on March 28 and Yale University on March 29.
Four different Stags collected a base hit in the Boston University doubleheader, namely
Kaitlin Hoffman,
Delaney Whieldon,
Morgan Sylvestre, and
Megan Forbes. The foursome account for most of the top spots in the team's offensive statistics with Sylvestre owning a .team-leading 333 batting average, followed by
Megan Forbes (.316), Hoffman (.310), and Whieldon (.273). Chali Warren has also enjoyed a fast start to the season with 12 hits in 14 starts with a team-best 10 runs scored and five stolen bases.
Three different pitchers account for the team's three victories to date with
Allie Bridgman,
Alyssa Weinberg, and
Samantha Lindsay picking up the decisions. Lindsay comes off her best pitching performance of the season in which she surrendered five hits against the potent Boston University lineup with four coming in the second inning. Bridgman continues to be the team leader in innings pitched with 33.2 on the statistics sheet.
Central Connecticut brings a five-game winning streak into the Wednesday meeting having swept Hartford in a doubleheader and following up with a three-game Northeast Conference (NEC) foe Wagner College last weekend. The Blue Devils own a 9-5 overall record with three of those losses coming against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponents in Manhattan and Mount St. Mary's.
Paige Stringer and Ashlyn Desaulniers have paced the Blue Devils' from the batter's box, hitting .326 and .319 respectively through their 15 starts this season. Desaulniers ranks as one of the team leaders with four extra base hits which includes three doubles and a home run as well as with her five stolen bases in as many attempts. Stringers has offered her teammates run production as well with a homer and seven RBI, surpassed only by Kim Howard's nine RBI. Kaylee Whittaker has been the team's primary pitcher, posting eight of the team's wins through 79.2 innings pitched. Katie Master won her only decision of the season and has appeared in three games this season.
Hartford owns a 5-10 overall record coming into this week after splitting a doubleheader with Siena College last weekend, winning the opener by a 3-2 count before dropping game two by a 5-4 score. Mara Sczecienski represents the team's top hitter on the stats sheet, posting a .380 batting average along with five doubles, four home runs, and 11 RBI. Kelsey Galevich is also putting together a solid season from the plate, checking into the week with a .342 hitting percentage in addition to her four extra base hits and four RBI. Pitcher Lauren Card has won three of her four decisions from the pitching circle, fanning 21 hitters in 31 innings of work through her nine appearances.
