BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Sacred Heart University softball team caught fire its game against Gardner-Webb University this evening, hitting six home runs on the way to an 11-3 win to end the Red and Black Tournament. The Pioneers split the day, falling to Harvard University in the opener. 

Team Records
Sacred Heart (5-5)
Harvard (5-5)
Gardner-Webb (7-15)

Game 1: HAR 11, SHU 0
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (L, 2.1 innings pitched, 6 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 3-2 record)
Liv Vadas (SHU) - (0.2 innings pitched, 1 earned run)
Jenna Pfister (SHU) - (1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Riley Flynn (HAR) - (W, 5.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 9 strikeouts, 2-0) 

Top Performers:
Victoria LoPinto (SHU) – 1-2, 1 walk
Amy Petrovich (SHU) – 1-3 
 
Of Note:
After a scoreless opening inning, the Crimson got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second. Harvard tallied a pair of RBI singles to bring both runs across. 

Harvard's hot batting continued in both the third and fourth innings, scoring nine combined runs over the two frames. Ahead 11-0 through four innings, the Crimson secured the win with a clean fifth. 

Despite not scoring a run, the Pios did have their chances, as they put a runner on in all but one inning. Jenna Mowad and Victoria LoPinto led off the game with walks to put two on in the first, and back-to-back singles from LoPinto and Amy Petrovich gave SHU two base runners in the third. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Harvard's Riley Flynn was able to work out of both jams. 

Game 2: SHU 11, GWU 3
Pitchers:
Carly Koltko (SHU) - (W, 6.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts, 1-1 record)
Kalyn Kyle (GWU) - (L, 3.1 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 2-3 record)
Alli Stidham (GWU) - (0.2 innings pitched, 2 earned runs)
Clara Wyatt (GWU) - (2.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs)

Top Performers:
Alyssa Gonzalez (SHU) – 2-4, 3 RBI, 2 runs, 2 home runs
Emily Carroll (SHU) – 2-2, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 home runs
Amy Petrovich (SHU) – 1-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 1 home run
Nicole Henke (SHU) – 1-4, 3 RBI, 1 run, 1 home run

Of Note:
SHU started its homer fest in the top of the second inning when Emily Carroll sent one over the left field fence to make it a 1-0 game. 

The Pioneers added to its advantage in the next frame, hitting two more long balls on the way to a 4-0 lead. With two outs and one on, Petrovich blasted a souvenir to center before Alyssa Gonzalez hit the first of her two in the next at-bat. 

The Runnin' Bulldogs cut into the Pios' lead, 4-2, in the third, until Haile Ebert recorded an RBI groundout to make it a 5-2 contest. 

For the second time in the game, the Pioneers hit back-to-back homers, this time in the fifth inning. Nicole Henke started the fireworks with a three-run blast to center, followed by Carroll's second of the day. Carroll finished the Red and Black Tournament with three home runs. 

Gonzalez iced the run-rule victory for Sacred Heart in the top of the sixth with her second homer of the game. A run by Gardner-Webb in the sixth settled today's final score at 11-3 Pios. Today's game marked Gonzalez's third multi-home run game. 

Up Next
The Pioneers hit the road again to take part in the Flames Classic hosted by Liberty University. SHU will play five games at the event, beginning with a 4 p.m. tilt against the host on Thursday, Mar. 9.