BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Despite Sacred Heart's streak of four straight shutouts coming to an end, the offense carried the load with 14 hits in a 9-6 game one victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday afternoon at Harbor Yard, extending the Pioneers' winning streak to six games as they improve to 5-0 in Northeast Conference play. A tenth win in 12 games, SHU moves over .500 for the first time this season at 11-10.

Game two of the doubleheader was suspended with two outs in the bottom of the third with the Pioneers threatening with the bases loaded. That game will resume tomorrow at 1 pm as part of a doubleheader. Game four of the series moves to Sunday at 1 pm.

Game One

After Sacred Heart failed to capitalize on a bases loaded opportunity in the bottom of the second, Fairleigh Dickinson struck first the third on a Patrick McClure two-run home run. That lead would hold until the fifth when the Pioneers scored twice to go ahead 3-2. That was the first of four straight at bats in which SHU would score two runs to ultimately pull away. 

Sacred Heart first cut into the deficit on a Jayson Sullivan infield single in the third, scoring Ted Shaw who had led off with a single. The Pioneers had runners on second and third in the fourth only to come away with nothing before Zack Short finally gave SHU the lead with a two-run, line drive home run over the center field fence. Sullivan was involved once again, coming into score after leading off with a single.

Starter James Cooksey made that lead hold with a 1-2-3 top of the sixth to allow Sacred Heart to add more in the bottom half with a two-out rally. Shaw started it with a walk, ending FDU starter Joe Flack's day. After Shaw stole second, Jesus Medina drove in the first run on a single to center, and with heads up base running took second on the throw home. This proved crucial when Sullivan singled in the next at bat, allowing Medina cross home to make the score 5-2. 

Fairleigh Dickinson made it 5-3 on Craig Alleyne's RBI single in the seventh and could have tied the game on a base hit with runners on second and third and two outs, but Cooksey got the final out of the seventh on a foul out. Short carried that momentum into SHU's at bat, leading off with a double before coming around on Keith Klebart's sacrifice bunt thanks to an error that allowed Klebart to reach. Jake Friar sacrificed him to second, and following a fly out, he scored as well on Alex Perry's single to push the Pioneer lead to 7-3.

Once again, FDU got within two in the eighth, as John Giakas and McClure began the frame with a single and double, respectively, the latter of which scored Giakas to end Cooksey's day. Brent Teller came on to strikeout his first hitter, but a sacrifice fly by Ryan Brennan made the score 7-5.

SHU had an answer once again, thanks in part to Victor Sorrento's one out triple. Fairleigh Dickinson decided to intentionally walk Short to set up a potential double play, but that backfired when a failed suicide squeeze led to a run down that Sorrento was able to score on. With Short moving up to third during the run down, he crossed home easily for the Pioneers ninth and final run on Klebart's single in the next at bat. FDU scored an unearned run in the ninth but could muster up no more.

Sorrento and Sullivan each finished with three hits.  It was Sorrento's second straight three hit game and his sixth of the season, and the second of the year for Sullivan. Sorrento added a run and stole base while Sullivan had two RBI's. Short added two extra base hits, three runs, two RBI's, a stolen base and a walk. Medina also had two hits, one run and an RBI. Ted Shaw was 1-2 with three walks, two runs scored and a stolen base.

McLure led the FDU offense going 2-4 with three RBI's and two runs. Giakas and Alleyne also had two hits apiece.

Cooksey threw the first 2.2 innings without giving up a run to extend the SHU scoreless innings streak to 36 before the third inning homer. He went seven plus, allowing seven hits and five earned for his second consecutive win to move to 3-2. Teller gave up just one hit and walked one in his two innings to pick up his first career save.

Game Two

Each team had a runner reach scoring position in the opening two innings but starters Jason Foley and Chris Kachmar combined to throw the 5.2 scoreless innings. Kachmar did run into trouble with two outs in the bottom of the third though, hitting Shaw before Medina singled. Sullivan then worked a walk to load the bases for Sorrento, where action will begin tomorrow. 

Foley struck four and allowed three hits in his three innings of work. Medina was the only Pioneer with a hit, going 2-2.