FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The regular season comes to a close this weekend with the Fairfield University softball team heading to the Garden State for a three-game series with Saint Peter's University. The Stags are looking to clinch a spot in next week's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship, currently holding the second spot in the conference standings.
Fairfield comes off a week where the team played five MAAC games between Rider University and Manhattan University. The Stags swept Manhattan to open the week before dropping two of three against the Broncs a few days later.
Cara Kochakian and
Sarah Bielski fueled the Fairfield offense during the five-game stretch with both student-athletes posting a .500 batting average. Kochakian's hitting percentage was buoyed by four extra base hits which included three doubles and a home run. She was also one of the team's top run producers with four RBI, second only to
Martina Gutierrez's five RBI.
Bielski was a constant threat on the base paths, reaching base 14 times with eight coming as the result a base hit. She also added a double and a pair of RBI to her weekly totals and did not strikeout in her 22 plate appearances.
Alyssa Weinberg put together another solid week by winning three games, two coming as a starter and one out of the bullpen. She continues to add to her MAAC-leading strikeout total, fanning 28 last week which raises her season total to 171.
Saint Peter's will send several student-athletes to the batter's box who are above .300 and a few more who are within striking distance of that mark. Paige Seemon and Carlee Charles are pacing the team's offense with .324 and .316 batting averages while Kiana Kadena Matsuda (.299), Hannah Klotz (.297), and Olivia Christopher (.293) are within reach of that coveted number.
The Peacocks have four pitchers who have won a game this season with Morgan Lipinski leading the way with 18 starts and 85 strikeouts in 92.1 innings of work. Brielle Coppola earned 84.2 innings in the circle, picking up a pair of wins over her 17 appearances this season.
Following this weekend's action, the MAAC Softball Championship will begin on Wednesday, May 6 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Marist University will host the event after clinching the regular-season title. The top six teams in the final regular-season standings will earn a place in the Championship which runs through Saturday, May 9.
