FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University softball team dropped a doubleheader to Rider University on Friday afternoon, falling to the Broncs by 6-3 and 8-5 scores.

In the first game, Rider never trailed in the game as the team opened with a run in the first inning and kept the Stags at arm's length for the remainder. The Broncs put together a pair of hits to take that first-inning lead, the second of which came from Kendall Reda-Fehsal. The infielder contributed another RBI single in a two-run fifth inning that put the visitors in control at 3-0.

The Stags found their swing from that point, scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth inning. The first three hitters reached base in the fifth, beginning with a single from Danica Silvestri. Cara Kochakian drove the ball off the center field fence to put two runners in scoring position. Sarah Bielski loaded the bases when she was hit by a pitch. Lauren Osland took advantage with a long fly ball to center field, chasing home Silvestri with the team's first run.

It didn't take Fairfield long to score its second run because Martina Gutierrez cleared the left field fence with her team-leading fourth home run to lead off the frame. Kochakian was hit by a pitch later in the inning and reached second base with a stolen base. However, the Stags could not bring her around the bases.

After cutting the lead to one run, Rider put all hopes for a comeback behind them when Reda-Fehsal hit her MAAC-best 11^th home run of the year in the top of the seventh, doubling the Broncs run total to six and pushing the team to its biggest lead of the game at 6-2.

Fairfield rallied in the bottom of the inning, which started with SJ Mull working out a walk and Anna Paravati stroking a single. Sammie Dougherty filled the bases with a base hit that set up Gutierrez's RBI grounder and brought the score to its final of 6-3.

The Stags started the second game with a four-run first inning, the first crossing the plate courtesy of Quinn McGonigle's bases-loaded walk. Gutierrez added an RBI single that put Fairfield in front by a 2-1 score. A bobbled throw on an attempted force out resulted in two unearned runs for Fairfield, sending pitcher Peyton Shields back to the pitching circle with a three-run edge.

Fairfield tallied its fifth run when McGonigle posted a one-out single and took second on a misplay following the hit. She came home when Gutierrez sliced a single to left field, bringing the score to 5-1.

Rider could not find a way to solve Shields until the sixth inning when the team was able to plate five runs off four hits, three of which brought runners to the plate. The Broncs put together another seventh inning rally which led to two more runs to make the score 8-5.

The Stags will meet Rider again on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 2 pm. Prior to the game, Fairfield will honor the Class of 2026, beginning at approximately 1:40 pm.