FAIRFIELD, Conn. – While the Northeast is battling cold temperatures and frozen participation, the Fairfield University softball team will open its 2025 season under more palatable conditions. The Stags begin a five-game stay in DeLand, Fla. for the Hatter Classic, a three-day tournament hosted by Stetson University.

Fairfield will play Bethune-Cookman University and the host school on Friday before taking on Wofford College and Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. The trip ends on Sunday with a second game against Wofford.

The Hatter Classic is the first of four weekend road tournaments that await the Stags at the start of this year's campaign, including the GATA Challenge hosted by Georgia Southern University from February 21-23. The road swing continues with a run to the Penn State Invitational on March 7-9 followed by the Charleston Southern Round Robin from March 14-15.

The team will try to play one game up north before the Charleston Southern Trip, staying in-state for a March 11 game at Central Connecticut State University.

With so much play on the road, Head Coach Julie Brzezinski will rely on her veteran student-athletes to carry the Stags through the upcoming weekends away from campus. In the batter's box, Fairfield will look to a pair of position players who received preseason All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) accolades.

Infielder Morgan Sylvestre and outfielder Charli Warren were both selected to the preeseason team by the conference coaches based on their play a year ago. The duo both picked up 51 hits in 47 starts with Sylvestre posting a .375 hitting percentage and Warren finishing with a .325 mark. Warren's speed on the bases was quite productive in 2024, stealing a team-high 16 bases (18 attempts) and scoring a team-best 35 runs while ranking among the MAAC leaders with six triples.

The Stags also gained much offensive production from catcher Delaney Whieldon and infielder Cara Kochakian, both of whom manufactured runs throughout the season. Whieldon picked up 13 RBI with eight extra base hits enroute to her .243 batting average. Kochakian, who started 41 of her 45 appearances, was second on the team with 18 RBI in addition to her three doubles and four triples.

Martina Gutierrez had a knack for picking up key hits in 2024, registering 15 RBI with a team-best nine doubles through her 46 starts. Anna Paravati was also in the mix with 13 RBI and three doubles. She was seventh in Division I in the toughest to strikeout category, fanning just three times in 124 at-bats (41.3 at-bats per strikeout).

The pitching staff has three experienced hurlers who are ready to build upon their 2024 success, beginning with Alyssa Weinberg. The lefthander recorded four wins a year ago, the most among the returning pitchers, and led all Fairfield student-athletes with 47 strikeouts in 80-plus innings.

Chela Kovar enjoyed a solid rookie season by winning three games and garnering 24 appearances overall. Kovar and Weinberg tied for the team lead with four complete games. Peyton Shields was also a newcomer who impacted the pitching staff, gaining entry in six games with one start.

All games at the Hatter Classic will be available via Live Stats. The Fairfield-Stetson game will be available on ESPN+ beginning at 5:30 pm on Friday.