FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The sounds that came from the Fairfield softball team post game huddle following the second game of today's doubleheader with Siena University were not typical for a team reveling in a doubleheader sweep. Instead, a chorus of "Happy Birthday" rang out over Alumni Softball Field, celebrating not only Peyton Shields' two wins over 18 innings of work but her date of birth as well.

The Stags took a pair of games from the Saints and secured the three-game series with their 2-0 and 2-1 decisions, allowing Fairfield to eclipse Siena for sole possession of second place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) standings.

But anyone who was in attendance at Alumni Softball Field knew the story was the incredible effort put forth by Shields. The right hander allowed just one run in those 18 innings of work, surrendering just seven hits on the day and striking out six against just three walks. And if that wasn't enough, Shields retired the first 15 batters she faced in the first game before seeing that streak end with a leadoff walk in the sixth.

"I was able to get ahead in the count so that allowed me to throw lower and outside which caused a lot of ground balls and pop flies," Shields said. "I am definitely a pitch to contact type of pitcher. I don't have very many strikeouts this year but I totally trust our defense so it's easy for me to pitch to contact when we have the best defense."

The defense to which Shields eludes did not make an error in 18 innings, seemingly coming with several critical plays that kept Siena from crossing home plate with one exception today.

As much as the story lends itself to pitching, one cannot forget that freshman Sarah Bielski was responsible for three RBI on the day including both in the 2-1 extra inning win, stroking run-scoring singles in the second and the 11^th innings. She also added an RBI base hit in the first game, plating the team's second run of the game.

In the opener, Fairfield rebounded from getting yesterday's one-hit shutout by pitcher Gracie Goewey. The right hander received the nod again today but the Stags were able to touch her up for a run in both the first and second innings to provide Shields with all that she would need to win the game.

Bielski opened the opener by drawing a walk, setting up Anna Paravati's RBI single after SJ Mull dropped a sacrifice bunt down which advanced Bielski one base. The second inning was almost a copy of the first but this time Danica Silvestri was hit by a pitch to start the frame. After moving to second off a wild pitch, Bielski dropped a single to the outfield that brought the score to 2-0.

Shields retired Siena in order in each of the first five innings before a walk to start the sixth spoiled the perfect game. The Saint broke up the no-hit bid in the same inning when Chloe Cummings sent a pitch up the middle for the team's lone hit in the game. Shields induced a ground out from the next batter to end the threat.

The Saints managed one more base runner in the game, a walk in the seventh, but was unable to build any momentum around it.

In the second game, each team scored a run in the second inning with the Saints' Ella Milante stroking a run-scoring single that gave Siena its only lead of the day. The Stags tied it up in the bottom half of the inning, courtesy of Bielski's single that chase Quinn McGonigle home with the winning run.

The score board would show zeros for the next eight-plus innings before the Stags were able to break the monotony in the bottom of the 11^th. McGonigle began the rally with a walk and moved to third on Martina Gutierrez's double to left center. After pop up recorded the second out, Bielski found an opening between the right and center fielders to plate the game winner.

While the performance was memorable by Shields today, it was not the first time that she enjoyed success around her birth day.

"One game in high school I pitched 13 straight innings which was the day after my birthday and we won that game too," Shields said.

With that type of birthday success already proven, Head Coach Julie Brzezinski may need to make a note to have Shields ready for this time next year as well.