The Fairfield University softball team will return to the Alumni Softball field on April 25 as they host Rider University in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. This weekend will showcase a three-game series, with the first game of Saturday’s double-header scheduled for noon and the second game’s first pitch set for 2:30 p.m.
The Stags currently sit in second place in the MAAC with a 13-5 conference record and a winning percentage of .722. Trailing only Marist (18-3) and moving above Siena with their series win from this past weekend, the Stags have showcased a strong dominance over most of the league and will look to add to their stack of wins and move closer to securing a MAAC Championship spot for the postseason tournament.
“After our sweep over Siena, and moving up to second in the MAAC rankings, the team is feeling really good going into the rest of our conference play. The whole senior class is especially motivated, due to our rankings, because we have never been able to host the MAAC tournament here at home. Our team as a whole, is hoping to keep our mindset positive and leave no doubt on the field,” said senior captain Cara Kochakian on the emotions going into the final stretch of the regular season and the MAAC tournament on the horizon.
Rider sits a few places behind in sixth overall with a 12-9 record in the MAAC. The Broncs will see this upcoming weekend series as a must-win in order to improve their winning percentage of .571 and keep up with the top half of the table. Fairfield is in a better position, and the opportunity is theirs to grab and Rider’s to spoil. The No. 1 seed hosts the championship tournament, and a sweep for Fairfield could propel them into talks for that host spot.
Senior Anna Paravati is third for the Stags for batting average at .301 and has the most RBIs at 25. Directly behind her on RBIs is first-year Sammie Dougherty with 24. Both have been equally strong and reliable run-scoring producers for the team so far. Senior Delaney Whieldon has gotten on base with almost half of her attempts and leads the starters with a .466 on-base percentage.
Sophomore Ava Armuth has helped set the stage for Fairfield’s offense, ranking second in batting average at .309 and scoring 31 runs. She has also been a major threat on the basepaths with 16 successful steals on 17 attempts, third in the conference. Armuth will be one of the key players to focus on putting the heavy-hitting pressure on Rider during the weekend.
On the defensive side, senior Alyssa Weinberg has been dominant in holding down the fort in the circle for the Stags. She leads the pitching staff with 143 strikeouts over 122 innings this season. She holds opponents to a .216 batting average.
“With so many games this season, our staff has been prioritizing rest, recovery and taking care of our arms,” Weinberg said.
Junior Peyton Shields has been a reliable second arm for the Stags and will be needed to maintain stamina over the course of Saturday’s double header and the third game on Sunday.
“My relationship with Peyton Shields has been an important part of our success. Having trust in each other on the field and being close friends off the field has made the game a lot easier… I think as pitchers we balance each other well to keep hitters off balance,” Weinberg said.
Rider’s aggressive offense is led by Maddie Luedtke with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs. Luedtke also leads the entire conference with a .705 slugging percentage. Rider’s leading hitter Aspen Wheeler holds a .360 batting average and stands fourth in the MAAC for hits at 50. Kendall Reda-Fehsal leads the team in RBIs at 37 and Abby Cruz is just behind Luedtke at 31.
In the circle, Gabi Rodriguez leads Rider’s pitching staff with a 3.33 ERA. Fallyn Stoeckel has pitched a team high 125.2 innings and has earned 11 wins, half of their 22, and has also contributed to the offensive side of Rider’s performances with 21 hits and 10 RBIs. Despite having a strong offense, the Broncs will need to fight the Stags defense that holds a .968 fielding percentage, among one of the strongest defensive numbers in the conference.
With the MAAC Championship in the near future, the three-game series this upcoming weekend provides an opportunity for Fairfield to improve its record in the MAAC and ensure they maintain a position in one of the tournament spots, as well as bring themselves closer to being in contention for home-field advantage. A win in the championship would mean bringing the trophy home for the first time since 2017. The Stags are in a great position going into these games and a sweep would surely push them along greatly in the fight.
