NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball made a strong effort in the seventh inning by scoring three times but the Stags could not find a way to push across the tying run, falling to Central Connecticut State University by a 5-4 count.
The Blue Devils did all of their damage in their first at-bat, scoring five times in the bottom of the first inning. The home team loaded the bases after the first four batters came to the batter's box which set up the big inning. Central Connecticut put the ball in play to score its runs, using a pair of RBI doubles, an RBI single, and a run-scoring fielder's choice to take control of the game.
Alyssa Weinberg took over for starting pitcher
Peyton Shields, earning the final two outs to close out the inning. Weinberg went on to scatter three hits and allow no runs over her five-plus innings of work, striking out 12 batters against just one walk.
Fairfield managed to put runners on base over the next three innings, but left one player on in the second, two players in the third, and three players in the fourth. The Stags finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning when
Anna Paravati opened with a base hit that eventually placed here third base following an errant throw from the outfield. She came home courtesy of
Faith Camilleri's sacrifice fly to right field to cut the lead at 5-1.
Neither team could manage a run over the next couple of innings until Fairfield tried to make a comeback.
Charli Warren started the inning with a fly to center field which was misplayed and resulted in the senior pulling up to third base with no outs.
Morgan Sylvestre sliced a ball to second base which resulted in an out but still brought the team's second run across home plate. The rally continued when
Anna Paravati was hit by pitch to put a runner on first base and eventually moved to third base following consecutive walks to
Delaney Whieldon and
Caroline Walls. After a pitching change, the Stags took advantage of two wild pitches to brings two more runs home. With the tying run on third base and two outs, Fairfield's rally ended with a strikeout that closed the game.
The Stags will return to action this weekend when they travel to the Charleston Southern University Round Robin tournament, spending the two days playing a pair of games against both UNC-Greensboro as well as the host school.
