HOUSTON, Texas – Ava Armuth recorded five hits, and Sarah Bielski added four hits to set up a split by the Fairfield University softball on the final day of the University of Houston Tournament. The Stags won the opener with a 13-6 decision over Houston Christian but fell to the host school by a 9-1 count in game two.

Fairfield enjoyed a fast start in game one with three runs in the top of the first inning. After the first two batters were retired, Anna Paravati and Ava Armuth both picked up a single. The base hits set up Quinn McGonigle's first home run of the season, a ball that cleared the center field fence.

Houston Christian cut into that lead in its half of the first inning, using an RBI single from Karlie Barba and a sacrifice fly by Chloe Foster to bring the deficit to one run. Fairfield gained one of those runs back in the top of the second inning, a rally started by a double from lead-off hitter Darby Weller. Paravati collected her second hit of the game to bring home her team's fourth run.

The Stags added two more runs in the top of the third courtesy of a two-run homer by Cara Kochakian to bring the score to 6-2. Ava Armuth tacked on a run with the Stags' third home run of the game before McGonigle registered her fourth RBI of the game with a run-scoring double.

Fairfield took a double-digit lead in the sixth inning after Sammie Dougherty stroked an RBI single, Kochakian posted a sacrifice fly, and Danica Silvestri ripped a two-run double.  Houston Christian fought back with four runs of its own with the big contribution coming on a three-run double by Jocelyn Briseno.

The game's final run came in the top of the seventh when Delaney Moquin picked up her first RBI on a base hit which chased Armuth home after her leadoff double.

Mia Simon made her collegiate debut by starting the Houston Christian game, scattering four hit and yielding two runs in three innings of work. Chela Kovar earned the win in relief before Delaney Moquin saw her first action of the season by gaining the final four outs of the game.

Alyssa Weinberg, Peyton Shields, and Grace Conrad combined to pitch the nightcap against Houston.

Fairfield will take to the road again next weekend when the team heads to the University of North Carolina-Greensboro for a five-game slate that will include a pair of games against both Columbia University and the host in addition to a single contest with Appalachian State University from February 13-15.