Behind Melissa Santos’ stellar pitching performances the softball team is prepared for a MAAC Championship run.
The woman’s softball team swept Marist and Siena this past weekend as they start to tune up for next weekend’s conference tournament.
Santos set a school record for wins in a season with her 23rd on Saturday, striking out 12 and allowing only four hits and no walks. Santos set the previous record of 22 wins last season. She then earned her 24th by pitching four innings of shutout softball in the second game against Siena. Fairfield beat Siena 2-1 and 1-0.
Santos continued her dominance by pitching an 11-inning no-hitter on Tuesday against Iona where she struck out 18 Iona batters. The Stags won the game 1-0 on Laura Sandonato’s game winning hit.
“I’m not that surprised that I’m playing well, but at the same time I am surprised,” Santos said. “You’re always greatful when things are going well. I think we got off to a slow start this year, but have really started to put it together.”
Santos’ teammates are surprised at her recent performances.
“She was on fire and incredible,” said fellow pitcher Christy Urban ’03 about Santos’ no hitter.
With the momentum on their side, the Lady Stags are starting to prepare for the MAAC Tournament.
“It is very important to win our first game since the tournament is double elimination,” said head coach Julie Brzezinski. “To win the tournament, we need a team effort and get our bats going early.”
The softball team has an overall record of 32-24-2, and 13-2 in the MAAC.
“Conference wise we have been up for big games and we have been progressing as the season goes along,” Brzezinski said. “Hopefully by tournament time, we will play like we have been playing as of late.”
The MAAC Tournament, set to take place in Buffalo, N.Y. on April 10th-11th, is what the softball team has been looking forward to all year.
“We are going to win the MAAC Tournament,” Urban said. “With our dominance in our conference, I really believe we are going to take it all.”
On Monday, Fairfield beat Marist in both games by an 8-0 score, and added a 7-0 victory in the second contest. Keri Giangrande knocked in six runs, and had the game winning hit in both games to help Fairfield’s sweep of Marist.
Karyn Kennedy, the senior second baseman, is closing in on a record of her own. Kennedy knocked in her 100th career RBI on Saturday, which is two shy of the school record. Her teammates feel confident that she will get that record soon in their final games.
Urban feels confident that the Stags can get the top seed in the tournament if they beat Iona on Sunday. Because of weather, the second game of the Iona doubleheader was postponed until Sunday with the Stags up 5-0, in the fourth inning.
But, the Stags just want to get the first win of the tournament.
“We need to score first in the games we play,” said Missy MacDonald ’04. “By doing this we can get ahead and build up our confidence.”
The softball team seems confident going into the MAAC Tournament, and with a 13-2 record, they should be. But now they have to concentrate on beating Iona on Sunday to get the top seed.
“Our defense is great, our pitching is great. We just need to get our bats going and we are unstoppable,” said MacDonald.
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