FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball takes to the road for a three-game series with Niagara University this weekend, playing a doubleheader on Saturday before finishing up its stay with a single game on Sunday. Because of potential weather issues, the three-game set will be played at the University of Buffalo's Nan Harvey field.
The Stags are looking to build on their momentum of their last two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series, taking two of three match ups with Siena College and Manhattan College over the last week. The team has won four of its last six games by scoring better than five runs per game during the stretch. Fairfield owns a 9-4 overall record when it scores at least four runs in a game this season, and has posted five or more runs in three of its last four outings.
Charli Warren and Morgan
Sylvestre stand at the top of the lineup during the team's offensive emergence as the duo has combined for 18 hits in 39 at-bats (.461) over the last six games. Warren owns a .476 batting average with 10 hits in 21 at-bats plus 10 runs scored and five stolen bases, while Sylvestre has eight hits in 18 at-bats (.444) with three runs scored and four RBI during last week.
Allie Bridgman has also been producing runs with seven RBI in those six games to go along with her .364 hitting percentage. Martina Guitierrez has elevated her batting average over the last seven days with six hits and a .375 batting average. In the pitching circle,
Bailey Taylor won all three of her decisions during the Siena and Manhattan series, sporting a 1.84 ERA with nine strikeouts in 19 innings pitched.
Warren and Sylvestre represent one of the top lead-off tandems in the MAAC this year, accounting for a combined .433 on-base percentage, 37 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 21 attempts. Sylvestre remains second in the conference for overall hitting with her .424 batting average, while Warren places fourth in the MAAC for runs scored (24), and tied for fifth in the conference for stolen bases (13). Taylor ranks sixth in the
MAAC for overall ERA (2.86), tied for fourth in earned runs allowed (20), and fourth for hits allowed. She owns a 4-1 overall
record with a 2.86 ERA on the season.
Niagara has also shown its ability to score runs this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game to set up its 13-15 overall record and 5-4 MAAC mark. The Purple Eagles come off a series win against
Canisius, splitting a doubleheader on the first day before recovering for a 6-3 in the third game of the series.
Lindsay Mayo paces the offense with her team-leading .383 batting average, 21 runs scored, and three stolen bases in as many attempt. Newcomer Brianna Delaney has made her mark in her first season with the Purple Eagles, sporting a .333 hitting percentage along with a team-best .617 slugging percentage and 17 RBI. Selah Moyer also boasts a .333 batting average which includes three doubles and a home run. Pitcher Julia Thompson has been near perfect this season with a 6-1 overall record and a 3.62 ERA, fanning 23 in 29 innings pitched. Maggie Hickingbottom has also served her teammates well with a 6-5 overall record and a 3.75 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 97 innings pitched.
Fairfield will return home for a non-conference game with Yale University next Wednesday, an afternoon game slated for Alumni Softball Field.
