FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team dropped a pair of conference games to Sacred Heart University as the Pioneers picked up 2-1 and an 8-2 wins this afternoon at Alumni Softball Field.

The Stags held an early lead in the opening game, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Delaney Whieldon started things off in the frame when she picked up a base hit with one out. Anna Paravati pushed into scoring position by drawing a walk, setting up Faith Camilleri's RBI single to left field that brought Delaney home.

The lead was short lived as Carly Koltko tied the game in the top of the second inning with a home run over the center field fence to knot the score at 1-1. Pitcher Alyssa Weinberg fanned the next three hitters to end the inning, as she would go on to strike out 13 batters in her seven innings of work.

Sacred Heart would not pick up another hit until the fourth inning, a single that would produce the team's second run. A pair of walks set up Sam Kowalski's single to right field that chased home the decisive run, putting the Pioneers ahead by a 2-1 count.

The Stags loaded the bases three times in the game, once in the first, second, and sixth innings but could not muster any runs. Fairfield was retired in order in the seventh to earn Kowalski's ninth win of the season.

Sacred Heart took control of the second game early, scoring a run in the first inning off a base hit from Elle Leckrone. The second inning produced six runs for the visitors off five hits but a pair of errors accounted for three of those being unearned.

Fairfield put together one rally that resulted in runs during the third inning, bringing home a pair of base runners to cut the lead to 7-2. Warren recorded an infield hit but was retired on a fielder's choice off the bat of Whieldon. She came home to score when Anna Paravati sent a pitch to the left-center field fence for the Stags first run. Paravati scored the team's second run off a single from Ava Armuth, cutting the deficit to five runs.

The game would remain at 7-2 until Sacred Heart paired a double and a single off reliever Grace Conrad, the only run she allowed in five innings-plus innings of work. At one point, Conrad retired 10 straight Sacred Heart hitters before the team's seventh inning rally.

Warren paced the Fairfield offense by reaching base four times in the twin bill, stroking three hits and drawing a walk. Whieldon and Armuth each had a pair of hits during the afternoon.
Fairfield returns to the diamond on Wednesday for a single non-conference game at UConn. The game time was moved up to 4 pm.