FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team will play its third weekend tournament in four weeks when the Stags travel to the Keystone State for a five-game set at the Penn State Invitational. The team will play a pair of games against Canisius University and Penn State University as well as a single game with Lafayette College.

The Stags have won a game in each of the first two tournaments, opening both sets with a victory. In the season opener, Fairfield posted a 3-1 win over Bethune-Cookman at the Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson University. The team also picked up a victory in its first game at the GATA Classic hosted by Georgia Southern University, edging Campbell University by an 8-5 decision in extra innings. This weekend, Fairfield will open with a Friday afternoon game against Canisius before battling the host school at 6:30 pm. On Saturday, Fairfield takes on Canisius again beginning at 1:30 pm before taking on Lafayette at 4 pm. The tournament concludes with another single game against Penn State, slated for a 12:30 pm first pitch.

Quinn McGonigle and Anna Paravati have enjoyed a torrid start in the batter's box with McGonigle pacing all Stags by hitting .450 over her nine starts. She has nine hits in 20 at-bats with a double and two RBI in addition to leading the team with her .542 on-base percentage. Paravati brings a 10-game hitting streak into the weekend, picking up at least one hit in every game played by the team this season. She owns a .387 batting average which has benefited from a two-hit game against both Stetson University and Oakland University. 

In the pitching circle, Alyssa Weinberg is responsible for both Fairfield wins, owning a 2-1 mark with a 2.42 ERA over her four starts. She is averaging better than a strikeout per inning pitched, fanning 28 hitters in 26 frames. Peyton Shields has pitched into some misfortune this year, owning an 0-3 mark despite posting a team-best 1.60 ERA over her 20 innings of work. She has yielded just five earned runs this season and has six strikeouts to her credit.

Canisius brings a 3-7 overall record into the weekend after winning one of three outings at the Pirate Invitational hosted by East Carolina University. The Griffs fell to Boston College and the host school before rallying for a 4-2 win over Loyola-Chicago. Ella Johel paced the team with a .370 batting average, stroking 12 hits and adding four stolen bases to her season stats. Alyssa Cloutier paces the offense with eight steals in as many attempts which is tied for the top spot in the MAAC. Olivia Manchester was in the pitching circle for all three Canisius victories, sporting a 1.91 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched.

Penn State owns an 8-11 overall record after taking three of five games played at the Hokie Invitational including a 6-1 win over Villanova in the five-game series finale. Brooke Klowowicz is one of four Nittany Lions batting over .300, boasting a team-best .473 batting average along with nine doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI. Natalie Lieto (.333), Jenna Nelson (.327), and Meagan Ricks (.316) round out the foursome. Mady Volpe and Lydia Spalding each have three victories in the pitching circle.

Lafayette is looking for its first win of the season after playing at the Camel Invitational hosted by Campbell, the Panther Invitational hosted by Florida International University, and the Tiger Invitational hosted by Clemson University. Mary Grace O'Neil has enjoyed early season success with a .421 batting average, stroking 16 hits in 12 starts along with six runs scored. Emma Ahlborn is next in line with her .267 batting average and a .389 on-base percentage.

The Stags will play its first game in the Northeast when they return from Penn State, traveling to Central Connecticut State University on Tuesday, March 11 at 1 pm.