POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University softball team came up a few runs short in today's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship match up with Quinnipiac University, falling by a 5-2 count. The setback eliminated the Stags and completed their season with a 27-24 overall record.
The Bobcats used the long ball to take control of this game early, posting a pair of home runs in the top of the second inning that resulted in three runs. Quinnipiac opened the inning with a solo home run, the first of five hits in the inning. The rally continued with a base hit followed by the team's second homer of the inning, spotting the Bobcats with a 3-0 lead.
Fairfield continued to flaunt its power when
Cara Kochakian cleared the right-center field fence with a solo home run to start the third inning, the team's fourth homer of the championship.
Pitcher
Peyton Shields, who took over in the pitching circle during the second inning, kept the Bobcats in check into the fifth inning. The junior retired nine straight hitters to keep Fairfield within two runs through five innings.
Quinnipiac found its way to a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning, putting two runners on with a bunt single and base hit. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, the Bobcats added to their lead with a single, putting runners on first and third. A stolen base attempt resulted in the fifth run after the throw to second was off target and allowed the runner from third to cross the plate.
Fairfield answered with one run of its own in the bottom half of the inning, a rally that started with
Ava Armuth's lead off double to left-center field.
Martina Gutierrez advanced Armuth one base with an infield single, setting up
Sammie Dougherty's sacrifice fly that brought the score to 5-2.
The Stags tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning when
Sarah Bielski opened the frame with a single. But back-to-back fielder's choices and a ground out to first base ended the game with the 5-2 score.
Anna Paravati finished the tournament with three hits and three RBI including a home run to pace the Fairfield offense. Kochakian offered a pair of hits including today's solo homer while Armuth and Bielski also had a pair of hits over the two days.
Quinn McGonigle and
Danica Silvestri added a home run in the championship as well.
