FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team starts the week with a pair of non-conference games that includes Hofstra University on Tuesday and Central Connecticut State University on Wednesday. Both games are slated for a 3 pm first pitch.

The Stags are coming off a three-game sweep of Sacred Heart University over the weekend, giving the team a 5-1 mark overall last week. Fairfield has won nine of its last 10 games wrapping a six-game and the current three-game string around a non-conference setback against Yale University. More importantly, the Stags continue to climb in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) standings as they continue to try and cement a spot in the six-team MAAC Championship in May. Currently, Fairfield stands third in the MAAC, tied with Siena University in the loss column with four which is just one off conference leader Marist University's three losses. The Stags and the Saints will meet this weekend at Alumni Softball Field for a three-game set beginning on Saturday.

Pitcher Alyssa Weinberg played a prominent role in last week's success, picking up three wins and a save within the team's five total victories. Against Quinnipiac, the senior earned a complete-game victory in the first game against the Bobcats and came back to gain the final five outs of game two for her first save. She rallied in the Stags sweep of Sacred Heart, fanning 28 hitters in 22-plus innings to pick up two more victories and improve to 11-7 in the pitching circle. Weinberg set a season-high with her 15 strikeouts against the Pioneers which also gave her three double-digit strikeout totals in her last five outings.

Offensively, Cara Kochakian put together a stellar week that saw the senior post a .364 batting average over the last seven days. She played a pivotal part in the weekend sweep, batting .571 during the three games with four hits in seven at-bats. She posted a double and four RBI which included the game-winning run of the team's 8-2 win in the opener. The infielder also dropped down a pair of sacrifice bunts to set up other run scoring opportunities.

On the season, Anna Paravati leads the team with a .327 batting average as well as with 24 RBI and six doubles. Sammie Dougherty, who drove in five runs and batted .333 over the six games last week, is a close second with her 21 RBI, placing third among her teammates with a .284 batting average. Peyton Shields, who also picked up wins in two MAAC games also last week, has won six games in the pitching circle this year and has two shutouts to her credit as well.

Hofstra looks to improve on its 22-18 overall record which includes a 15-3 conference slate. The Pride has won four of its last six CAA games including a three-game sweep of Towson University. Lily Lepez paces the offense with her .414 batting average while Allana Morse serves as the team's top run producer with eight home runs and 33 RBI. Emma Falen and Madison Steppe handle most of the pitching duties and have won 10 and nine games, respectively.

Central Connecticut owns a 21-13 overall record and a 16-2 NEC record, winning the team's last eight games. Grace Lawton continues to enjoy the spring season, batting .430 overall with 43 hits in 100 at-bats. She also leads the team with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in her 32 starts. Liz Hamilton has accounted for 13 of the team's 21 wins from the pitching circle, while Hailey Strunk has added seven victories.