NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team earned a split in today's doubleheader at Central Connecticut State University, winning the opening game by a 14-1 count in six innings before seeing the Blue Devils post a walk-off 4-3 win in the second game.
The Stags started their offensive showcase in game one with a pair of runs in the second inning with
Chela Kovar starting the rally on a two-base hit. She advanced to third base when
Delaney Whieldon sliced a single to put runners on the corners.
SJ Mull tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field. Whieldon eventually scored the go-ahead run later in the inning following a single off
Cara Kochakian's bat.
Fairfield tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning as Mull and
Sammie Dougherty each placed one-out singles to set the stage Kochakian delivered with her second RBI single to push the lead to 3-1 and advanced on the throw home to put a pair of runners in scoring position.
Lauren Osland stepped into the batter's box as a pinch hitter and contributed a two-run single to center field, bringing the score to 5-1.
The offense put together a nine-run outburst in the sixth inning, posting the total on eight hits. Kochakian added to her RBI total with a two-run double to bring home the first runs of the inning.
Quinn McGonigle picked up her first RBI on the day when she laced a single that chased home Kochakian. After
Anna Paravati walked to put two runners on base, Kovar launched a three-run blast that pushed the score to 11-1. Dougherty added an RBI triple while Aliva Macaluso and
Danica Silvestri each posted an RBI single to close out the scoring.
Pitcher
Alyssa Weinberg tossed six innings to earn the victory, allowing just two hits and striking out eight on her way to her third win of the season.
Fairfield jumped out to a first-inning lead in the second game, plating a pair of runs in its first at-bat.
Ava Armuth opened the game with a home run over the center field fence. After the next two batters were retired, Kovar launched a solo shot that cleared the wall and doubled the team's advantage.
The Blue Devils tied the game in their half of the third, rebounding from the opening two batters making an out. The home team saw the next three batters reach base beginning with a solo home run that cut the lead in half. A walk and a double followed the long ball that tied the game at 2-2.
Both teams scored a single run in the fourth inning with Fairfield scoring on
Anna Paravati's RBI single to left and Central Connecticut knotting the score off Regan Vunak's run-scoring base hit.
The game was decided in the bottom of the seventh thanks to Ava Cino's double to left center field that brought home the team's fourth run.
Fairfield will return to the diamond for a single game at Yale University on Wednesday with first pitch slated for 3 pm.
