NEWARK, Del. -- An early lead and a late-inning rally contributed to the Fairfield University softball team's first win of the season as the Stags posted a 6-2 win over Bucknell University. The game was part of the Blue Hen Invitational hosted by the University of Delaware.

Fairfield jumped out to an early lead by plating a pair of runs in its first at-bat of the game. Charli Warren led off the game with a double but appeared to be stranded after a couple of strikeouts and a pop up into foul territory on the third base side. But, the foul ball ended up falling to the diamond which led to Allie Bridgman keeping the inning alive with a walk, Anna Paravati followed with a single up the middle that send home Warren and put Bridgman in scoring position. Megan Forbes hit a shot to shortstop that was misplayed and allowed the second run to cross home plate.

Pitcher Alyssa Weinberg did not allow a hit until the third inning until a one-out single put a runner on base. The runner eventually came home on a misplayed ball to the outfield which cut the lead in half at 2-1 after three frames. Bucknell tied the game in the fourth inning by putting the first two runners on with a hit and a walk to set up the rally. Two fly balls to the outfield yielded the second run, the last of which was a sacrifice fly to right field.

Bridgman played a role in Fairfield's rally in the top of the sixth inning by getting things started with a lead-off base hit. Paravati switched places with the base runner following her fielder's choice but quickly went to second when Forbes singled to right field. After Quinn McGonigle drew a walk to load the bases, Darby Weller brought home the tie-breaking run with a walk of her own to make the score 3-2. Martina Gutierrez grounded out to the right side brought home another run which doubled Fairfield's edge at 4-2. Warren capped the inning with a two-run single up the middle which padded the lead at 6-2. 

Weinberg retired Bucknell in order in the sixth inning but ran into a bit of trouble in the seventh put a pair of runners on the basepaths with a single and a walk. The left-hander induced a line drive to second base for the third out and the victory. She scattered five hits and walked four batters to earn her first win of the season.

The Stags will continue their stay at the Blue Hen Invitational although the schedule has changed due to threat of inclement weather. Fairfield will play just one game on Saturday when it takes on Maine at 4 pm. The Sunday slate will include a pair of games with Bucknell (1:30 pm) and Delaware (4 pm) rounding out the Stags' trip.