FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Pitchers Allie Bridgman and Alyssa Weinberg combined for a four-hitter to lead the Fairfield University softball team to a 2-1 win over Army West Point in its final non-conference game of the 2023 campaign. Bridgman tossed the first four innings and scattered three hits to earn her fourth win while Weinberg fanned six hitters and allowed one hit over her three innings to collect her third save.

Fairfield grabbed an early lead by putting a run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Outfielder Charli Warren started things off when her grounder to the left side of the infield was fielded cleanly but the throw to first was errant and allowed the lead off hitter to reach second base. On the next pitch, Warren moved up a base eluded the catcher and went to the back stop, setting up Delaney Whieldon's sacrifice fly to left center field. 

Bridgman retired the side in order in the top of the second inning but ran into a little trouble to start the next inning. After inducing a fly ball to center field to start the inning, Alicyn Grete earned an infield hit to the left side for Army's first hit of the game. She stole second base a few pitches later to reach scoring position of which Brook Mitchell took full advantage. The outfielder laced a double to right center field which chased Grete home with the tying run.

The Stags placed a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning courtesy of Warren's single up the middle and stolen base. But the team could not find a way to bring her home, keeping the score at 1-1. Fairfield took the lead in its next at-bat when Kaitlin Hoffman and Anna Paravati registered back-to-back one-out singles to put a pair of runners on the base paths. The duo took off on a double steal which was coupled with a throwing error when third base was not covered, allowing Hoffman to come home with what would be the deciding run.

Weinberg entered the game in the top of the fifth inning and took command right from the start. She began by striking out two hitters in her first inning of work, offsetting a one-out walk. The left hander found some issues in the sixth inning, surrendering a hit and a walk after retiring the first two hitters. Weinberg ended the threat with her fourth strikeout to keep her team in front by a run. The freshman closed out the game by retiring the side in order with another pair of strikeouts along with a ground out to end the game.

Fairfield now turns its attention to the final weekend of the regular season which includes a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheaders. The Stags host Siena College on Friday for a twin bill that begins at 1 pm. On Saturday, Marist College comes to campus for a noon doublehearder that will also feature a senior day ceremony before the first game, scheduled tentatively for 11:40 am.