BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Fairfield University softball team dropped the series finale against Niagara University this afternoon as the Purple Eagles erased an early deficit with a four-run fourth inning to post a 4-2 decision. 

The Stags put the first run of the game on the scoreboard in their half of the fourth inning, using a walk and two hits to register the run. Allie Bridgman opened the inning by drawing a walk before being sacrificed to second base. Anna Paravati followed with a base hit to send pinch runner Darby Weller to third base. The run was produced when Megan Forbes collected a base hit that brought Weller home to give an early lead to the Stags.

The Purple Eagles put together a four-run inning in the bottom of the frame by putting together four hits and registering four base on balls. The first five batters reached base for Niagara, beginning with a single, a walk, and an RBI single. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and then came home on Saleh Moyer's two-run double to the left center field gap which brought the score to 3-1. The team's final run came off a sacrifice fly that brought the score to 4-1.

Fairfield put together a come back bid in its final at-bat when Quinn McGonigle led off the seventh inning with a solo home run over the left field fence. Morgan Sylvestre also reached base later in the inning but a fly ball to center field was the final out to complete Niagara's victory.

Six different Fairfield hitters had at least one hit in the game with Paravati pacing the offense with a pair of hits. Alyssa Weinberg tossed the first three innings of the game before yielding to Chela Kovar who finished out the game with three innings. Kovar fanned two hitters during her stint and yielded one run while scattering four hits.

Fairfield returns to non-conference play on Wednesday afternoon when it hosts Yale University for a 3 pm single game. The Stags will follow the Yale date with a three-game road series with Rider University beginning on Saturday with a doubleheader.