FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Another week means another road trip for the Fairfield University softball team. The Stags will head to the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) for the Spiro Classic, a five-game slate that will include contests against Appalachian State University, Columbia University, and the host school.
After opening the season with a 2-2 mark at the University of Houston Tournament, the softball team will look to its opening day when it takes on Appalachian State at 12:30 pm followed by a match up with UNCG at 5:30 pm. The Stags continue on Saturday with a 12:30 pm game against Columbia before meeting up with UNCG again at 5:30 pm. The Stags finish their weekend with another game against Columbia beginning at 11 am on Sunday.
Head Coach
Julie Brzezinski saw her newcomers make a key contribution in the Fairfield offense last weekend. Freshmen
Sarah Bielski and
Sammie Dougherty both came home with a .500 batting average. Bielski posted a team-best seven hits in the four-game set at Houston, and added three FBI with four runs scored and a stolen base. Dougherty picked up four hits with two being doubles which leads the team.
Quinn McGonigle was the team's top run producer with five RBI, a number that benefitted from a three-run homer against Houston Christian University. She sported an impressive .429 hitting percentage which places third among her teammates.
Ava Armuth also returned home with an average better than .400, registering a .417 mark with a double and a home run.
Pitchers
Alyssa Weinberg and
Chela Kovar earned a win last weekend to account for the team's two victories. Weinberg was impressive in her five-inning complete game against Houston Christian in the season opener, fanning 11 hitters and allowing just one hit while facing 13 batters. Kovar secured her win over Houston Christian out of the bullpen, tossing 2.2 innings and allowing four hits in her initial outing of the season.
Appalachian State brings an unbeaten mark of 4-0 into the tournament, beating UNC-Wilmington twice as well as besting Kennesaw State and George Washington University once. Dakota Daniel boasts a team-best .538 batting average while Makayla McClain and KB Bradshaw have a team-leading six RBI each. Sophie Moshos won both of her decisions to date which can be traced to her 0.62 ERA.
Columbia makes its season debut at the Spiro Classic after sporting a 24-18 overall record and a 15-6 Ivy League slate in 2025. Sarah Mikami is the Lions' top returning hitter with her .390 hitting percentage which included nine doubles, three triples, and five home runs. Pitcher Emmy Davis looks to build on her freshman success, garnering a 7-4 record with a shutout and a save in her inaugural campaign.
UNCG started the season at the Georgia Southern Tournament, winning one of five games which included a split with Western Kentucky University. Kaylan Belfield enjoyed the most success at the plate, recording a .333 batting average and a pair of RBI. Pitcher Brooklyn Shroyer made an appearance in all five games last weekend and collected a 1.91 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 14.2 innings pitched.
