Fairfield plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth to defeat Canisius, 4-3, in the first game before the Golden Griffins beat the Stags, 4-1, in game two to split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Fairfield, Conn.

Canisius moved to 21-16 on the season and 8-4 in conference action with the split while Fairfield moved to 14-20 and 7-5 in MAAC play in 2022.

Game 1 Recap
Fairfield spoiled sophomore Megan Giese's strong day in the circle, plating four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the first game of the doubleheader.

Before the Stags took the advantage, Canisius got on the board in the third thanks to an infield single from sophomore Christie McGee-Ross.

With a pair of runners in scoring position, McGee-Ross slapped a slow grounder to shortstop Madison Robicheau and beat out the throw, allowing junior Sophia Recrosio freshman Saige Alfaro to cross the plate, putting the Griffs up a pair.

Canisius added its third run of the contest in the fourth when Recrosio collected her second of four hits on the day, a single to right field that brought home freshman pinch runner Sam Weber from third. 

Fairfield scored its first run of the sixth inning after Charli Warren connected on a double to center field, putting runners at second and third with no outs for Kaitlin Hoffman.

Hoffman served a pitch over the left-field fence for a three-run homer, giving the Stags' a 4-3 advantage.

The Griffs looked to put together a comeback in the top of the seventh, recording back-to-back singles with one out, but were unable to plate another run.

Giese finished the game striking out nine batters while yielding just four hits and a pair of free passes in six innings of work.

Game 2 Recap
Redshirt senior Emily Nicosia moved to 6-0 on the season, holding Fairfield to just one run across 6.2 innings of work in the second game of the twin bill.

Fairfield's lone run of the contest came in the bottom of the first when Haley Updegraff scored on a Canisius throwing error.

The Griffs took a 2-1 advantage in the fourth inning following back-to-back RBI doubles from Recrosio and freshman Emily Ilano.

Canisius utilized its speed in the fifth to make it a 4-1 game.

Alfaro and graduate student Erin Hufford worked a double steal with Alfaro crossing the plate after Fairfield's catcher, Drew Westford, threw the ball into the outfield on the throwing attempt to third.

Sophomore Destiny Falquez brought in Hufford on a bunt single to Westford.

Fairfield attempted to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, stringing together a pair of two-out singles and a walk, which prompted senior Alexis Churchill to enter the ballgame to get the final out.

Churchill did just that, getting Warren to strike out swinging to end the game, earning her second save of the season.

Game Notes
• Hufford became the seventh Canisius player in program history to steal 20 bases in a season, joining McGee-Ross as the second player to achieve the mark in 2022.
• Hufford and McGee-Ross also become the third pair of teammates in program history to swipe 20 or more bags in a single season, joining Jenny Maheu/Lauren Hope (2008) and Lizzy Gatto/Lauren Hope (2011).
• With nine strikeouts in game one, Giese has now struck out 126 batters on the season, the most by a Canisius pitcher since Jen Consaul in 2014 (124 strikeouts). Giese is now tied with Michelle Corrigan (1994) for the 15th most strikeouts in a single season.
• Giese has struck out eight or more batters in all six of her starts against MAAC opponents this season.
• With three singles on the afternoon, Hufford passed Meg Thompson (1988-91) for the eighth most hits in program history with 180.
• Nicosia passed Madi Weathers for the 11th most starts in program history, making her 65th career start in the circle in game two.

Up Next
• Canisius concludes its road trip, heading to New Rochelle, N.Y., for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader against Iona. First pitch against the Gaels is slated for noon.

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