March 31, 2007
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Erin Frank hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning, which capped a three-run rally in a 4-3 come-from-behind victory against Niagara University in the first game of a doubleheader. The Purple Eagles posted a 7-4 win in the nightcap to earn a split in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader, the opener for both teams.
In the opener, Niagara scored first with a single run in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of two Fairfield errors to grab a 1-0 lead. The visitors added two more runs in the fifth inning off Nicole Sum's two-run double that made the score 3-0.
The Stags cut into that lead with a run in the fifth frame, courtesy of a lead-off home run by Dani Griswold. Fairfield took the lead for good with a strong effort by the top of the order in the sixth inning. Kristie Trifiolis led off with a single through the left side, and came home when Julia Jacoby followed with a triple to the right field fence. She came home when Erin Frank hit her second home run of the year, a shot which easily cleared the center field fence and gave Fairfield a 4-3 lead.
Starting pitcher Cagney Ringnalda made the lead stand, finishing the game with an outstanding defensive gem. With a runner on second base, Jenna Baker hit a shot up the middle that Ringnalda caught in the air. She wheeled around and through out the base runner at second for a game-ending double play.
In the second game, Niagara spotted itself with a four-run lead as it scored a single run in both the first and second innings and two more runs in the third inning. The Stags came back with a pair of runs in the fourth inning when Ringnalda hit a home run to center field that scored Frank who had reached on an error. In the fifth inning, the home team tied the game when Griswold and Megan Borst each singled home a base runner to make the score 4-4.
Niagara put together the winning rally in the sixth inning as Kristen Kill hit a two-run double that broke the tie and put the Purple Eagles in front for good.
The Stags return to action on Sunday, April 1 when they host Canisius College for a MAAC doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 11 am.
