FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart softball team wrapped up its home slate Tuesday with a doubleheader split against the Manhattan Jaspers at Pioneer Park. The Pioneers won game one 2-1 before the Jaspers took the nightcap 6-4.

Both Manhattan (20-24) and Sacred Heart (23-27) were held scoreless in the first two innings in game one. The Jaspers got on the board in the top of the third. With two outs, starting pitcher Kate Bowen singled to left field and reached second on a wild pitch. Elena Bowman then knocked a base hit to right field, scoring Bowen to give Manhattan a 1-0 lead. Bowen did her part in the circle to keep the Pioneers off the scoreboard, retiring the first 10 batters she faced. The Pioneers had runners at first and second with two outs in the bottom of the third when Justine Sibthorp (Santa Clarita, Calif.) flew out to end the threat.

Sacred Heart starting pitcher Adrianna Mallory (Pine Bush, N.Y.) settled in after allowing the run in the third. Mallory allowed four hits in the last four innings and left four runners on base. The Pioneers rallied to win in the bottom of the seventh. Sibthorp and Courtney Machamer (Williamstown, Pa.) both walked leading off the inning. Mallory then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Wendi Westmark (Brookfield, Conn.) drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Freshman Nicole Deissler (Commack, N.Y.) tied the game with a single to left field, making the score 1-1. With the bases loaded, Kate Nadler (Southbury, Conn.) was hit by a pitch to bring around the winning run.

Jenn Robillard (Plainville, Mass.) had two of the Pioneers' three hits in game one. Mallory scattered eight hits for the complete game win, walking one while striking out four. Bowen walked four and struck out two in 6.1 innings, and was 1-for-4 at the plate. Bowman was 2-for-4.

Game two started the same way as game one as both teams were scoreless through two innings. The Jaspers broke open the scoring in the top of the third. Manhattan scored three runs on a Bowen RBI single and a two-RBI single by Sydney Weedon. The Jaspers scored single runs in the next three innings to take a 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Sacred Heart rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Deissler and Jade Bowins (Frederick, Md.) were both walked by pitcher Kelsi Redding to lead off the frame. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. After Nadler walked to load the bases, Robillard singled to drive in Deissler and make the score 6-2. After a strikeout, Nicole Sidor (West Vancouver, B.C.) hit a two-RBI ground-rule double to left center to get the Pioneers within two, 6-4. The rally ended there as Sibthorp and Kacie Wentworth (Canton, N.Y.) were retired to end the sixth. Neither team scored in the seventh, giving Manhattan the 6-4 win.

Annie Dreher (Saugus, Calif.) was 2-for-4 in game two with an RBI. Bowen was 3-for-5 for Manhattan in game two with two RBI. Bowman and Weedon were both 2-for-4 and drove in a combined three runs. Wentworth started the second game in the circle for Sacred Heart, going five innings. She allowed eight hits and five runs, three of which were earned. Wentworth had four walks and a strikeout.

The Pioneers wrap up the season with a pair of road doubleheaders this weekend. Sacred Heart is at Saint Francis U Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.