STRATFORD, Conn. -- Kristie Trifiolis made sure the Fairfield University softball started the MAAC tournament in a good way by hitting a leadoff home run, which propelled the Stags to a 7-0 win over second-seeded Niagara University on Thursday afternoon. The win sends Fairfield to an 11 am match up with top-seeded Canisius College on Friday.

Trifiolis hit her third home run of the season to give the Stags a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, sending the ball over the left-center field fence. It was the first of three hits for the shortstop, also adding a single in the third and a two-run single in the fourth.

Fairfield raised its advantage to 3-0 in the third inning after Trifiolis singled and went to third on Julia Jacoby's base hit. With runners on second and third, Jenna DiBernardo sent a ball up the middle for a two-run single.

The score ran to 5-0 in the next frame when Meghan Borst reached on a fielder's choice. She went to third on Jessica Stand's single, and she went to second on the throw to third base. Trifiolis followed with a base hit that chased home Borst and Stand. The Stags closed out the scoring with two more runs in the seventh off an RBI single by Jacoby. Jacoby would later score the final run off a passed ball.

Pitcher Sarah Minice earned her 15h of the season by tossing a three-hit shutout, her fifth shutout of the season. She struck out nine batters and walked just one hitter in her complete-game performance. Niagara's main threat against Minice came in the first inning when two infield singles put runners at the corners with one out. The freshman struck out Tory Healy and Jenna Baker to end the inning.

The MAAC tournament, hosted by Fairfield University, is being played a Frank DeLuca Field in Stratford, Conn.