STRATFORD, Conn. - The Niagara University softball team (27-20) fell in the opening round of the MAAC Tournament to the Fairfield Stags (23-28) via a 7-0 margin. The loss places the Purple Eagles into the losers bracket, as they will play Marist next.

Head coach Al Dirschberger saw his team run into a tough Fairfield Stags team that fired on all cylinders today. 

"Fairfield played a really strong game," stated Dirschberger. "We couldn't get the timely hits to bring in some runs and it hurt."

The game started off with a bang for the Stags, as leadoff hitter Kristie Trifiolis smacked a home run to left center field off of Tiffany McCrory (Albuquerque, N.M.) for the 1-0 lead. Niagara threatened in the bottom of the first, with Kristin Sito (Elyria, Ohio) on third base via a single and Teresa Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) on first base via a single, but the Purple Eagles couldn't plate the runs.

The Purple Eagles threatened again in the bottom of the sixth, down 5-0. MAAC Co-Player of the Year Felicia Coffey (Mesa, Ariz)  doubled to lead off the inning and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Niagara couldn't build off of Coffey's hit, as the Purple Eagles went down in order to end the sixth.

McCrory pitched five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, while Brooke Viola (Los Alamitos, Calif.) pitched two innings in relief for Niagara.

The Purple Eagles now must win two games in a row to make it to the MAAC Tournament finals tomorrow, with the first game at one p.m against Marist. For those who can't be there, catch all of the action here.