The women’s softball team is starting off on the right foot this season with a winning record (10-7), dramatic victories in Florida, and sweeping its first double-header against MAAC competition this season.
Fairfield beat St. Peters in a double header this past Monday by scores of 10-3 and 4-3. The Stags record is now 10-7 overall and 2-0 in the MAAC.
“We have a good team camaraderie,” said right fielder Laura Sandonato ’04. “We have the whole package: strong pitching, great hitters, and good defense.”
Sandonato believes that these are the elements that will help lead the Stags to a MAAC title. She said their goal is to win the MAAC and right now they are just looking to take it one game at a time.
Fairfield traveled to Orlando, Fla. during spring break to hit off its season. The team played nine games and went 5-4 during the break. But the Stags ended the trip on a high note, winning their last two games in extra innings.
Fairfield will be looking for leadership from its four seniors: pitcher Christy Urban, first baseman Maria DiPilato, centerfielder Ellen Sarosy and pitcher Melissa Santos.
Coming into this season, Santos ranked 13th amongst the all-time strike-out leaders. She has averaged nine strikeouts per game throughout her career. Santos has been ranked amongt the nation’s top ten strike-out leaders the last two seasons.
Santos will lead the Stags on the mound this year as their first starting pitcher. Santos struck out 11 hitters and allowed just five hits in a 3-2 win over IUPUI, in the extra innings win.
Urban and Tara Hansen ’06 will round out the Stags’ starting rotation.
Hansen will have to carry a huge load on her shoulders being a freshman starter and backing up two experienced senior starters.
“There is really not that much pressure,” said Hansen. “I am used to pressure, I have always played competitively.”
Hansen said she doesn’t know what to expect from league competition, but is very optimistic for the team this season.
“We have a good team,” said Hansen. “We have everything it takes to win the MAAC Championship.”
Fairfield has a long road ahead of them before the MAAC Championships, and both Sandonato and Hansen know the team needs to improve in some areas in order to reach their goal.
“We need to get used to playing with a whole new infield,” said Hansen. “We are young and we need to work on our communication.”
The Stags travel to Jamaica, N.Y. this Saturday to battle Quinnipiac and St. John’s.
“We only have three pitchers, but they are all solid,” said Sandonato. “In our games we need to jump ahead, score first, and then keep on scoring and not give up.”
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