FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team came up short against Siena University in the first game of a three-game series this afternoon, falling by a 3-1 score at Alumni Softball Field.
The offenses did what they could against two of the top pitchers in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Siena managed to scratch out three hits against Fairfield starting pitcher
Alyssa Weinberg. Fairfield was not as successful against Saints hurler Gracie Goewey, posting just one hit off the bat of
Quinn McGonigle.
Both pitchers were nearly flawless through the first four innings as neither surrendered a hit in that time frame. However, the visitors were able to take advantage of an error that set up the game's first run.
Sarah Miller opened the inning by earning a walk, setting up a sacrifice bunt attempt for Lauren Melton. The ball was fielded but the throw to second was errant which allowed both runners to move to second and third bases. Chloe Cummings lofted a fly ball to right field that allowed Miller to come home for the game's first run.
Siena picked up the game's first hit in the fifth inning and it was responsible for the Saints' second run. After Cummings reached on an infield misplay, Emma Petersen drove a pitch to the right-center field fence that resulted in a triple and an RBI.
The final run came home in the sixth inning, a rally started by an infield hit by Gianna DiMeglio. She advanced a base on a passed ball, setting her up to score the game's third run off a single from Cummings.
Fairfield managed just one hit in the game which came off the bat of
Quinn McGonigle, an infield hit to the right side. She advanced to second following
Danica Silvestri's bunt before being stranded there when the next Fairfield hitter went down on strikes. The Stags also had a base runner in the first and third innings courtesy of walks collected by
SJ Mull and
Danica Silvestri, respectively.
Both pitchers completed the game with Weinberg yielding three hits and fanning eight hitters and Goewey surrendering one hit and striking out three batters.
The two teams will finish up the three-game set on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 pm at Alumni Softball Field.
