FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team won their second road game in as many days, rallying with two late runs to edge Sacred Heart University by a 5-3 score. The Stags took an early 3-0 lead before the home team rallied to tie it. Fairfield sent home a baserunner in both the fifth and sixth innings to gain the final advantage.
The Stags continued their offensive resurgence which began with the 10 runs scored yesterday against Central Connecticut State University. Today, Fairfield collected a run in its first at-bat of the afternoon with
Haley Updegraff getting things started with a single. She put herself in scoring position with a stolen base, an opportunity that
Megan Forbes took advantage with a base hit up the middle.
After starting pitcher Sam Lindsay worked through the bottom of the first inning, Fairfield rallied once again but this time pushed two runs across home plate to gain a 3-0 advantage. After an out was recorded,
Allie Bridgman and
Madison Robicheau put together back-to-back singles, setting up
Charli Warren with an RBI situation. The sophomore took advantage by slicing a triple down the left field line that allowed her two teammates to cross home plate.
Sacred Heart was able to produce three runs in the bottom of the second inning, combining a three hits with a miscue in the outfield to tie the game at 3-3. The Pioneers plated the runs off back-to-back RBI singles followed by a dropped ball in the outfield which accounted for the rally.
The Stags regained the lead in the top of the fifth frame courtesy of a lead off walk from
Kaitlin Hoffman. After the graduate student stole second base, freshman
Delaney Whieldon sent a pitch off the left-center field fence that brought Hoffman to make the score 4-3 in favor of the Stags.
Warren and
Haley Updegraff worked a little magic in the sixth inning to add another run to Fairfield's total. Warren worked out a walk and stole second base ahead of Updegraff's single up the middle that chased her teammate home.
Fairfield received two strong pitching performances by Lindsay and reliever
Alyssa Weinberg as the duo combined to scatter nine hits over the seven-inning game. Lindsay tossed the first three innings, allowing two earned runs and six hits. Weinberg came into earn the victory by throwing the final four innings, yielding no runs and three hits while fanning five batters.
The Stags will return to the diamond next week when they play two more in-state teams on the road, facing the University of Hartford on March 28 and Yale University on March 29.
