FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball split a doubleheader with Saint Peter's University in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play, winning the opener by a 5-0 score before dropping the second game by a 5-4 count.
In the opener, pitcher
Alyssa Weinberg kept the Peacocks in check for most of the game, scattering seven hits and walking two in her seven innings of work. The left-hander faced a bases-loaded situation twice in the game but fanned consecutive batters to end the second and induced a double play grounder to escape the fifth inning. She collected four strikeouts overall during her performance.
The Stags scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning when
Charli Warren opened the frame with a base hit. She stole second and took third on a grounder, setting up the first run when an infield miscue allowed the senior to score the game's first run.
Faith Camilleri stood at second base after the error and came around to score when another dropped ball at first base pushed the lead to 2-0.
Fairfield tacked on one more run in the fourth inning after
Christina Minor laced a two-out double to left-center field to put herself in scoring position.
Morgan Sylvestre drove a pitch between short and third for a single, chasing home Minor for a 3-0 advantage.
The team's final runs were the result of an RBI single from Minor which sent pinch runner
Darby Weller across home plate and a double off the bat of Silvestri that allowed Minor to record the team's fifth run of the game.
The Peacocks tried to rally in the seventh inning by putting two runners on base but another Fairfield double play thwarted the scoring chance.
The second game saw Fairfield jump out to a 3-0 lead with a single run in the first inning and two more runs in the second. Warren started the game by getting hit by a pitch and taking second off a wild pitch. After
Delaney Whieldon walked, a double play grounder put Warren on third base with two outs. An errant throw allowed Warren to score and put Fairfield ahead by a 1-0 score.
The lead went to three runs in the second inning after
Cara Kochakian and
Morgan Sylvestre each walked and stole a base, setting up Martina Guitierrez's two-run single to left. The score remained until Saint Peter's put together a pair of doubles and a pair of singles to tally four runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Fairfield tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-out rally that involved a triple to center by Warren and an RBI single from Whieldon, putting the score at 4-4.
Saint Peter's scored the deciding run in the top of the seventh by starting with a single and walk from the first two hitters. After Jess Forte's fly to right sent Olivia Christopher to third base, Tai Turner sent the ball back to right field in her at-bat for a sacrifice fly that scored Christopher.
The two teams will play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at noon. Before the game, the Fairfield University softball program will honor its seniors with a pregame ceremony scheduled to start at approximately 11:45 am.
