BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Sacred Heart University softball team kicked off the Red and Black Softball Tournament with a 4-2 win over the host Gardner-Webb University on Friday afternoon in Boiling Springs, N.C.

TEAM RECORDS
Sacred Heart (3-3)
Gardner-Webb (5-13)

FINAL SCORE: SHU 4, GWU 2
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, 3-0 record)
Andrea Lyon (GWU) - (L, 5.1 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, 2-7 record)
Alli Stidham (GWU) - (1.2 innings pitched, 1 run, 1 strikeout)
 
Top Performers:
Grace Saad (SHU) – 2-4, 1 run
Nicole Henke (SHU) – 1-3, 1 home run, 1 run, 1 RBI
Victoria LoPinto (SHU) – 2-3, 1 run
 
Of Note:
This afternoon's game started as a pitchers' duel, as SHU's Sam Kowalski and GWU's Andrea Lyon did not allow a hit till the third and a run until the fifth inning. 

The contest's first run came off the bat of first year infielder Nicole Henke, who slammed a homer over the left field fence in the top of the fifth to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The home run is the first for Henke in her sixth career game. 

After Gardner-Webb answered in the bottom of the fifth to even the score, the Pios bats plated two more runs in the sixth to regain the lead, 3-1. Jenna Mowad began the frame with a double before a Grace Saad single put two on. Then, Emily Carroll brought Mowad across with a one-out double while Amy Petrovich plated Saad with a single to left. 

The Runnin' Bulldogs retaliated again with another run in the home half of the sixth to make it a 3-2 game. Fortunately for SHU, a fielding error by the GWU shortstop gave them another insurance run heading into the bottom of the seventh. 

In the seventh, Kowalski slammed the door shut on a home comeback, retiring three straight batters after a leadoff walk and single to seal her third win in as many starts. The first year pitcher from San Clemente, Calif., struck out a season-high six batters on her way to her third complete-game win. 

UP NEXT
The Pioneers are back in action tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader against Detroit Mercy and Chattanooga at the Brinkley Softball Stadium. SHU will face the Titans first at 1 p.m., then the Mocs at 7 p.m.