FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team faces a week of non-conference competition over the next seven days, traveling to the University of New Haven on Wednesday before wrapping up with a home doubleheader against the University of Maine on Friday beginning at 12 pm. The twin bill with the Black Bears was moved from Thursday to Friday because of the forecast for inclement weather and cold temperature.
The Stags will play the University of New Haven for the second time in a week, falling to the Chargers by a 3-2 score last Wednesday. Fairfield built a 2-0 lead in the game only to see the visitors tie the game in the sixth before a lead off home run in the seventh inning provided the winning tally. Seven different Fairfield student-athletes recorded a hit in the game with
Ava Armuth responsible for two of the team's nine hits. Fairfield finished last week with a split in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play, dropping the first game before rallying in the second game against Canisius University.
New Haven was swept in a three-game conference series by Wagner College, putting the Chargers overall record at 5-18 and NEC slate at 3-6. Allison Murai paces the Charger offense with her .333 batting average over her 19 games played. Two of her 14 hits have left the ball park, accounting for two of the nine runs she has scored this season. Brianna Trueman joins Murai for the team lead in home runs with two and also owns a team-best 15 RBI through her 22 appearances. Peyton Sullivan, who earned the win in last week's match up with Fairfield, and Cecelia Imbimbo each have a pair of wins from the pitching circle.
The University of Maine dropped a pair of games at the Binghamton University over the weekend after splitting a twin bill with Stonehill College a few days earlier. The Black Bears own an 8-23 overall record and an 0-5 mark in America East play.
Kaelyn Larkin sits on top of the team's statistics with her .383 batting average, a number which also places her fourth in America East. Fracesca Guerrera joins Larkin in the 20-hit club with a team-best 27 base hits, a distinction also shared by Annika Shearer (24 hits) and Eviana Robles (22 hits). Morgan Pool represents the team's top run producer with 15 RBI, helping Maine average nearly four runs per game this season. Pitcher Alysen Rieth has a team-high three wins this season with 58 strikeouts in 69-plus innings of work.
For Fairfield,
Delaney Whieldon has enjoyed success from the batter's box with her team-leading .356 batting average. She is one of four Stags with 12 RBI on the season, joining
Sarah Bielski,
Sammie Dougherty, and
Quinn McGonigle for that honor.
Anna Paravati serves as the team leader in runs batted in, checking into the week with 19 along with her .324 hitting percentage.
Alyssa Weinberg and
Peyton Shields have spent most the innings in the pitching circle, winning six and three games respectively this season.
