Throughout the past four years the softball team has consistently been ranked among the top in the MAAC, but every year has fallen short of a MAAC Championship.
This year is no different with the Stags heading into MAAC play ranked fourth in the preseason poll of league head coaches. The Stags had a strong 2007 season, dominating in both preseason and regular-season play.
However, for the first time in more than five years, the Stags failed to make the MAAC Tournament, ending the 2007 season with a 20-24 overall record and a 7-9 MAAC mark.
While the Stags have yet to push past a MAAC Championship, they are led by one of the best senior classes as they strive to grasp a berth to the NCAA tournament.
Leading the Stags into the 2008 campaign are senior co-captains Julia Jacoby and Erin Frank. Both players were named to the Preseason All-MAAC team after receiving honors during the 2007 season.
Jacoby was named to first team All-MAAC last season, after leading the team with 26 RBI along with leading the team in hitting. She hits .364 against MAAC opponents and .415 against all opponents.
Going into her final year with the Stags, Jacoby, an outfielder, was ranked 20th in the nation as one of the toughest to strike out, ranked 24th on batting average and fifth for triples.
Frank joined Jacoby last season with second team All-MAAC honors, her third consecutive season receiving honors.
Last season she was nationally ranked 37th for walks-per-game.
Beginning the 2008 season, the catcher and infielder will look to improve on her 23 career-home-run record, which she has claimed during the past three seasons.
Rounding out the five seniors are Riannon Thomas, Kristen D’Alessandro, and Breanne Morschauser. All players have been a dominating force on the field, starting or playing in all games during the 2007 season.
Julie Brzezinski enters her 11th season as the Stags’ head coach. During her stint at Fairfield, she has averaged 30 wins per season and marked six winning season’s total.
While Fairfield’s season has gotten off to a slow start with a 4-12 record, MAAC conference play is right around the corner and the Stags hope to pull through another strong season.
With eight returning players and five freshmen, the seniors hope to lead the way to another MAAC Championship.
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