FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team put forth a strong effort to erase an early five-run deficit but ended up just a couple runs short as the Stags dropped a 6-4 decision to Siena College at Alumni Softball Field.
Fairfield, who was the designated visitor in this game, opened the game with a single run in the top of the first inning.
Morgan Sylvestre was the first base runner when she was hit by a pitch and went all the way to third base off
Allie Bridgman's single. Sylvestre crossed home plate on
Anna Paravati's infield single to put the score at 1-0.
Siena tied the game in the bottom of the inning using a single and a walk from the first two hitters to set up Ashley Giampolo's sacrifice fly for the team's first run. The Saints added five more runs in the bottom of the second inning highlighted by Bella Pardo's two-run single and Mikala Fletcher's two-run base hit.
Fairfield freshman
Chela Kovar entered the game in the pitching circle in the second and kept Siena in check for the remainder of the game. The pitcher went four innings and allowed just four hits with one walk and no runs to finish out the game.
The Stags started to rally in the late innings, beginning with two runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Danica Silvestri began the rally by getting hit by a pitch, setting up
Delaney Whieldon's single to put two runners on the base paths.
Cara Kochakian kept things going with a base hit that scored Silvestri and brought Fairfield within four runs.
Quinn McGonigle added a double to the mix which scored the team's third run and brought the score to 6-3.
The seventh inning also was exciting for Fairfield fans with
Morgan Sylvestre being hit by a pitch to put a runner on first base. Bridgman was next in the lineup and responded with a single and Silvestri was hit by a pitch once again to load the bases for the Stags.
Anna Paravati drove home the team's third run with a fielder's choice but the next batter grounded out to end the game.
Bridgman and McGonigle paced the Stags' offense with two hits each while Paravati was the top run producer with two RBI.
Fairfield will close out the three-game series with Siena on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader that begins at 12:30 pm. The second game will follow at approximately 2:30 pm.
