FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team will return to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Saturday morning when the Stags host Iona University for a pair of games. The first pitch has been moved to 11:00 AM from the originally scheduled time of 12:00 pm due to a forecast of inclement weather later in the day.

The Stags are coming off a thrilling victory over St. John's University, edging the Red Storm with a late run in a 1-0 decision. The game featured seven hits and 14 runners left on base between the two teams but neither team could push a run across home plate until the bottom of the sixth inning. In that frame, Quinn McGonigle lofted a fly ball to right field to bring home pinch runner Ella Watson and provide enough offense to make a winner of reliever Samantha Lindsay. She was the fourth Fairfield pitcher that day, joining starter Allie Bridgman, Alyssa Weinberg, and Bailey Taylor.

Charli Warren has been the team's offensive catalyst throughout the season, posting team bests in hits with 34 and walks with 13 which has led her to a team-leading .409 on-base percentage. She has picked up a hit in 16 of her last 18 games, collecting 22 hits over 59 at-bats (.372 batting average). Warren's .337 overall batting average remains tops on the Stags' statistics with Kaitlin Hoffman placing second based on her .297 hitting percentage. McGonigle recorded her first career RBI in the St. John's game and holds a .261 batting average over her 21 appearances.

Lindsay earned her fifth win of the season against the Red Storm, her fourth win in the team's last seven games. She has fanned 27 hitters over her team-leading 75 innings pitched and has registered a 3.27 ERA over her 19 appearances. Allie Bridgman did a little bit of everything in the St. John's game, getting the starting nod in the St. John's game from the pitching circle before moving behind the plate for the later innings of the game. As a pitcher, Bridgman paces the Stags' pitching staff with 47 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched. 

Iona brought a 13-21-1 overall record and a 5-3 MAAC slate into the weekend which started with Friday's doubleheader against Quinnipiac University. The Gaels boast the talents of Jamie Sheeran who is among the MAAC's top hitter based on her .347 batting average. In addition to collecting 34 hits so far this season, Sheeran continues to enjoy a strong season in the batter's box with 13 home runs and 32 RBI. Kara Zazzaro has been consistent in the pitching circle, tossing six wins this season through her 17 games pitched. She has three shutouts and two saves to her credit.

Fairfield has a busy schedule next week with three non-conference games plus a MAAC doubleheader on Saturday. The Stags open up by hosting a doubleheader against the University of Hartford on Tuesday beginning at 2:30 pm before welcoming Sacred Heart University on Wednesday for a single game at 3 pm. From there, the team travels to the Garden State for a twin bill against Saint Peter's University with first pitch slated for 12 pm.