Falkanger Furthers Fairfield in 2016 MAAC Softball Championship
MAAC Sports
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – The fifth seeded Fairfield Stags defeated the fourth seeded Monmouth Hawks 2-1 in the second matchup of the 2016 MAAC Softball Championship.
The Stags were led by starting pitcher Lauren Falkanger who threw a complete game, allowing just one first inning run while striking out six. Fairfield will now face top seeded Marist on Thursday, May 12 at 11:30 a.m. Monmouth will face the loser of second seeded Manhattan and sixth seeded Quinnipiac at 2:00 p.m.
Monmouth scored in the first inning when Justene Reyes drove in Emma Hill with an RBI single. Both of Fairfield’s runs came in the third inning when Lauren Filicia scored on a wild pitch and then Courtney Hankins drove in Angelina McGuire on a sac fly.
Sydney Underhill started for the Hawks and went 3 1/3 innings and was relieved by Amanda Riley, who allowed only one hit over the final 3 2/3 innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Ashalynn Umiamaka singled with for Monmouth with two outs, Amanda Riley would strike out to end the game and give the Stags the victory.
The 2016 MAAC Softball Championship is a double elimination style tournament with the championship final taking place on Saturday, May 14 at noon. If the team coming out of the loser’s bracket defeats the team in the winners’ bracket, the second and deciding game will take place at 2:30 p.m.
The winner of the 2016 MAAC Softball Championship will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. The NCAA Softball Selection Show is on Sunday, May 15 on ESPNU at 10:00 p.m.
For all information regarding the 2016 MAAC Softball Championship, visit maacsports.com/softball