DELAND, Fla. – The Fairfield University softball team opened the 2025 season with a split on the first day of the Hatter Classic, posting a 3-1 win over Bethune-Cookman University before falling to Stetson University by a 6-4 score.
The Stags were unable to put together any offensive threats in the first two innings as the first six batters were retired in order. In the bottom of the third,
Gillian Deans became the team's first base runner when she was hit by a pitch. After Deans was sacrificed to second base,
Martina Gutierrez launched a two-run homer in her first at-bat of the season to put Fairfield in front, 2-0.
With the lead in hand, pitcher
Alyssa Weinberg kept Bethune-Cookman off balance through the first five innings. It wasn't until the top of the sixth that the visitors were able to put a run on the board when Briana Velazquez ripped a one-out home run to right center to cut the lead in half. The Stags regained their two-run edge with a run in the bottom of the inning, courtesy of an RBI single from
Anna Paravati.
Weinberg finished the complete game effort by scattering six hits and striking out eight batters to earn her first win of the season.
The Stags gained the lead in the nightcap against host Stetson, scoring an unearned run in the top of the first inning.
Charli Warren led off the game by reaching on an infield error before taking second base on a passed ball. After being sacrificed to third base with a bunt, the senior came home on
Delaney Whieldon's ground out.
Stetson tied the game in the bottom of the first with just one hit. The Hatters put a runner on with a lead off walk and used a base hit from the next hitter to reach scoring position. Like Fairfield, a fielder's choice brought home the tying run.
Fairfield took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when
Faith Camilleri led off the inning with walk.
Anna Paravati traded places with Camilleri on a fielder's choice and eventually scored when
Quinn McGonigle stroked a two-out single to push home the second run. The lead went to 3-1 in the fifth inning after Camilleri forced pinch runner
Christina Minor home when she drew a bases-loaded walk.
The home team broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth using three extra-base hits to plate a majority of the runs. A pair of home runs made the difference, the first homer coming from lead-off hitter Amber Chumbley. The second homer came off the bat of Emily Santana that capped the inning's scoring.
Fairfield nearly made the improbable comeback by scoring a run off a Paravati single and loading the bases with one out before the final two outs were recorded by strikeout.
The Stags will return to the diamond on Saturday when they play Wofford College at 9:30 am before matching up with Bethune-Cookman again at noon.
