FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The game had all the makings of an October Classic - 50-degree temperature, grey skies, and a winner-take-all contest between the Fairfield University and Iona College softball teams. The only exception was that the game was played in May.

Fairfield won the decisive game by a 2-0 count in the second contest of a doubleheader with Iona, sending the Stags to next weekend's MAAC tournament. Iona won the opening game of the twinbill, setting up the importance of game two.

Freshman Kelli Panter pitched well in the game, going five-plus innings before yielding to classmate Danielle Iovino. Iovino pitched the final two innings to earn her first career save, giving up two hits and securing one strikeout. Panter allowed just four hits and struck out four hitters to earn her ninth win of the season.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning when Jessica Stand stroked a one-out single to center field. The sophomore scored all the way from first base when Krisite Trifiolis ripped a double into the left-center field gap to make the score 1-0. Julia Jacoby stroked the team's third straight hit, a single to right field that sent home Trifiolis for a 2-0 advantage.

In the opener, Iona scored the game's first run in the top of the first when Erin Kyle came home off a double from Loli Mills. The Gaels added two more runs in the third frame when Mel Gettins hit a line drive over the left fielder's head for a two-run double. Pitcher Becky Riccitelli made those runs stand by tossing a three-hit shutout, striking out seven hitters while walking only two.

Fairfield will play in and host next weekend's MAAC tournament at DeLuca Field in Stratford. The official tournament schedule will be announced on Monday.