FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team will host Mount St. Mary's for a three-game series this weekend with a couple of changes to the schedule. The two teams will meet for a single game on Friday, March 20 beginning at 2 pm followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, March 21 starting at 12 pm.
The Stags are coming off a three-game sweep of Merrimack College, bringing their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record to 3-2. The Mount is one of two unbeaten teams left in MAAC play, sporting a 2-0 mark that came from a doubleheader sweep of Merrimack.
Fairfield comes off a 2-1 eight-inning setback to Army West Point on Wednesday, seeing the Black Knights pick up a walk off win following a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Ava Armuth was responsible for bringing home the team's run, slicing an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Armuth is one of four Fairfield starters batting better than .300 this season, sporting a .321 hitting percentage with 17 hits.
Anna Paravati, who paces the offense with 16 RBI, is the only Stag with more hits this season, accumulating 18 through her 21 starts. The third baseman places third on the team with a .316 batting average.
Delaney Whieldon owns the team-high for batting average, posting a .326 mark in addition to registering a home run and nine RBI.
Sarah Bielski rounds the foursome with her .316 hitting percentage, garnering 15 hits which includes two doubles and a triple.
Alyssa Weinberg has found her stride inside the pitching circle, winning three of her last five decisions, fanning 25 over her last 20.1 innings pitched. She has a staff-best four victories to her credit along with a shutout.
Peyton Shields has a pair of wins over her 10 appearances while
Chela Kovar owns one of the team's seven victories.
Mount St. Mary's will take the diamond for the first time since dropping a doubleheader to University at Albany on Sunday, March 15. The team has five wins this season with coming within a week of each other.
Avery Dinges not only paces her teammates with her .412 batting average, but she also possesses the best hitting percentage in the MAAC. She has a hit in each of her last five games and seven base hits in her last 15 at-bats. She has a six-game streak earlier in the season, going 9 for 17 during that stretch from February 27 to March 8. Gina Del Giorno is also experiencing a solid season with her .344 batting average, highlighted by her team-best two triples.
Emmaleigh Zagrodnicheck and Sophia Schmehl both have a pair of wins on the season with Schmehl owning a shutout as well as a team-best 20 strikeouts.
Following the weekend, Fairfield will host the University of New Haven for a single game on Wednesday, March 25. The game will take place at Alumni Softball Diamond beginning at 3 pm.
