FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team's unblemished Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record remained intact after the Stags rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to complete a sweep of Merrimack College. Fairfield won the opener by a 3-0 score before coming back in the nightcap with a 2-1 victory.

As dramatic as the Stags come back was in game two, the first game was just as compelling. Junior Alyssa Weinberg fanned the first 10 batters she faced before the streak ended with a pop up bunt attempt in the fourth inning. The left hander would go on to finish the game with a career-best 16 strikeouts to earn her 10^th win of the season and her second shutout of the campaign.

The Stags scored a run in the first inning which is all Weinberg would need on this afternoon. Charli Warren led off the game with a single up the middle and promptly stole second base, the first of three thefts on the day. Anna Paravati placed a base hit to left field, sending Warren to third base. Faith Camilleri completed the scoring opportunity with a fielder's choice ground ball to the right side.

Fairfield tacked on two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, beginning with Quinn McGonigle's base hit. She advanced on Christina Minor's bunt before Martina Gutierrez walked to put a couple of runners on base. Morgan Sylvestre put down a bunt to move both runners up a base. Warren stroked a grounder to the left side which was misplayed, allowing a run to score and to keep the inning alive. Paravati brought home the second run of the inning with a single to right field, bringing the score to 3-0.

Weinberg scattered three hits and did not walk a batter in her seven innings of work, facing just 24 batters in the game.

In the second game, the starting pitchers were locked in a scoreless game for three innings. Fairfield's Chela Kovar only gave up two hits through the first three innings while Emma Prahin was equally effective in those frames. Merrimack would produce the game's first run in the top of the fourth with a lead off home run by Madeline Arvai, chasing Kovar from the game.

Peyton Shields took over for Fairfield and tossed four scoreless innings to earn the win, surrendering just two hits and fanning three hitters in her stint.

Fairfield finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh inning with a rally started by designated player Emma Marchese, who registered her third hit of the game to start inning. Minor advanced pinch runner Evelyn Wozniak with a bunt. Morgan Sylvestre followed with another bunt, but beat out the play to put runners on the corners.

Warren followed by drawing a full-count walk to load the bases, setting up Delaney Whieldon's RBI single to tie the score at 1-1. Paravati provided the game winner when she lofted a fly ball to right field that dropped, sending home the winning run.

Fairfield remains unbeaten in MAAC play with an 8-0 record, improving its overall slate to 14-16 following its ninth consecutive win. The Stags will now play Marist College this weekend with three-game set being played at Army West Point. The schedule calls for a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. The Red Foxes are also unbeaten in MAAC play after today's sweep of Canisius, owning a 28-5 overall record and a 5-0 MAAC mark.