HOUSTON, Texas -- The Fairfield University softball team opened the 2026 season with a split at the University of Houston Tournament, starting the day with an 11-0 five-inning win over Houston Christian University before a late rally enabled the host school to pull out a 3-2 win in the final game of the day. 

Pitcher Alyssa Weinberg dominated the opener, coming up just short of a perfect game in the shortened game. The senior recorded 11 of the 15 outs by strike out which set her up for success throughout the game. Weinberg missed a perfect game when she gave up a lead-off single in the bottom of the fifth before retiring the final three hitters to earn her first win of the season. While the left hander kept Houston Christian off balance, the Stags offense looked as though they were in midseason form by registering seven hits and sending 11 runners across the plate.

Anna Paravati, who led the team with 33 RBI a year ago, picked up where she left off in 2025 by bringing in the Stags' first runs of the season. The senior laced a two-run single in the third inning to break open the scoreless game, driving in Martina Gutierrez and Ava Armuth who reached on consecutive walks. Weinberg made the runs stand by striking out two hitters and inducing fly ball to center to keep the two-run lead intact.

The Stags broke the game open with nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as four Stags collected a hit in the frame while Evelyn Wozniak offered a pair of singles in the rally. Gutierrez and Delaney Whieldon each posted a two-run single while Wozniak, Quinn McGonigle, and Sarah Bielski both added a run-scoring base hit in the inning. Once again, Weinberg went back to the circle after her teammates gave her run support and shut down Houston Christian. 

In the second game, Fairfield took the lead on two occasions but could not hold onto either advantage as Houston rallied to tie the game at 1-1 before taking the lead at 3-2 in the fifth inning. The Stags scored the game's first run in the second inning courtesy of a pair of freshmen. Bielski opened the inning but dumping a base hit into center field. After McGonigle sent her to second with a bunt, Sammie Dougherty drove a base hit to right field.

Houston tied the game in the third inning, a rally which started with a lead-off double by Isabel Cintron. She was sacrificed to third base with a bunt, setting up Ariel Redmond's RBI single that knotted the game at 1-1. Fairfield regained the lead in the next inning when Whieldon opened things with a base on balls. Lauren Osland entered the game as a pinch runner and promptly came all the way around on Bielski's run-scoring double to push the Stags back in front.

Pitcher Peyton Shields was able to keep the one-run edge until the fifth inning when an RBI double from Madox Mitchael that tied the score. She would come around to score on successive wild pitches that gave the Cougars their first lead of the game. Pitcher Nevaeh Brown kept the lead for Houston, tossing four hitless innings of relief in earning her first win of the season.

Fairfield will return to the diamond on Saturday when the team plays Houston Christian University at noon (EST) before battling Houston at 3 pm (EST).