May 14, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Cagney Ringnalda pitched a four-hitter and provided the winning runs with a home run as the Fairfield University softball team defeated Rider University by a 3-1 score in an elimination game of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament. The victory sent the Stags into the championship round, where they came up short to second-seeded Marist College. The Red Foxes scored a first-inning run for the game's only offense, and captured the title with the 1-0 decision.
In the opener, Fairfield posted all the runs it would need in the bottom of the second inning against Rider. After a lead-off strikeout, Shannon Logan singled to deep shortstop to place a runner on first base. Ringnalda followed with a line-drive home run over the left-field fence which put the Stags in front, 2-0.
The home team added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning after Tara Hansen scored off Erin Frank's double to right-center field. Rider scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning when Jen Cullen singled through the left side of the infield. However, Ringnalda retired the next hitter on a fielder's choice to end the game. The pitcher allowed four hits and struck one hitter in seven innings of work.
Fairfield advanced to the championship round against unbeaten Marist College, needing to defeat the Red Foxes twice to garner the MAAC title. Unfortunately, Marist scored a run in the bottom of the first inning, which stood through the rest of the game. Pitcher Megan Rigos allowed just four hits and struck out six batters for the shutout, which sent Marist to the championship.
Hansen, Frank, Logan, and Jenna DiBernardo each had a hit for the Stags. The Stags finished the season with a 32-27-1 overall record, which included a 2-2 record in this year's MAAC tournament.
