FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team picked up another non-conference victory this afternoon, reaching a season high for runs scored in an 11-5 victory over Central Connecticut State University. The Stags put most of their runs up in the fifth inning when they posted eight runs which turned a deficit into a commanding lead.
The home team was the first to score in the game as
Quinn McGonigle picked up her squad with a sacrifice fly in the second inning. Central Connecticut came right back with an unearned run in the top of the third off a double play which halted pitcher
Bailey Taylor's consecutive scoring streak at 16-plus innings.
The Stags regained the lead in the bottom of the inning when
Charli Warren manufactured a run. She led off with a single, took second off a bunt, and secured third base following a wild pitch.
Allie Bridgman brought Warren home with a grounder to the right side that pushed the lead to 2-1.
The Blue Devils battled back to take their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth by scoring three times. Meg Gorman provided the key hit, a two-run double off the center field fence to account for the final two runs. The double was one of three stroked by Gorman this afternoon.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth inning when Fairfield used timely hitting and took advantage of an error late in the rally to register its eight-run outburst. Bridgman tied the game at 4-4 when she drove a grounder between first and second, setting up the big inning.
Cara Kochakian put the Stags back in front with her single through the left side which was followed by a two-run double by McGonigle. A misplayed grounder on the left side allowed two unearned runs to score to push the score 9-4 before Warren earned an RBI single to close out the fifth-inning scoring.
The visiting team gained one of those runs back in the sixth inning courtesy of a double off the left-center field fence by Skylar Warn, bringing the deficit back to 10-5. In Fairfield's half of the inning, a hit batter and two walks set up an RBI grounder from Kochakian to close out the scoring.
Taylor picked up her seventh win of the season and third in her last three decisions, scattering six hits and striking out six over her six innings of work.
Chela Kovar took over in the top of the seventh to finish up the game.
Fairfield will continue its home stand on Wednesday afternoon when it hosts Sacred Heart University in the team's final non-conference game of the 2024 campaign. The Stags return to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play over the weekend, welcoming Marist College for a doubleheader on Friday and a single game on Saturday.
