Kowalski, LoPinto Highlight Pios’ All-NEC Recognition
5/10/2023 1:18:00 PM | Softball
SHU also sent three to the All-NEC First Team and two to the All-Rookie Team
NEC RELEASE
SOMERSET, N.J. – The Sacred Heart University softball team was well represented on Wednesday's 2023 Northeast Conference end-of-year awards. The Pios' acknowledgment was highlighted by two major award winners, as first year pitcher and infielder Sam Kowalski was tabbed the NEC Rookie of the Year, and junior outfielder Victoria LoPinto won the league's Golden Glove Award.
In addition to winning two major awards, SHU placed three on the All-NEC First Team and two on the All-Rookie Team. Amy Petrovich, Alyssa Gonzalez, and Emily Carroll were tabbed First Team All-Conference, while Kowalski joined Nicole Henke on the All-Rookie Team.
Kowalski was named NEC Rookie of the Year and made the All-Rookie team after starting in the circle for 19 of her 26 appearances this season, posting a 9-12 record with a 3.62 ERA. The San Clemente, Calif., native led the NEC with 41 strikeouts looking and was fifth with 117 total Ks. She finished the season with 133.1 innings pitched behind 13 complete games. Kowalski tallied three contests with eight-plus strikeouts, including a 10-K gem against Wagner on April 21. She also tallied 14 hits and 11 RBI at the plate this year. Kowalski became the first Pioneer to win the NEC Rookie of the Year award.
LoPinto earned the NEC's highest defensive prize after serving as the Pioneers' starting center fielder this season. The East Hanover, N.J., native appeared in 46 of 47 games, starting 44. LoPinto finished the year with 79 putouts and six assists with two errors for a stellar .977 fielding percentage. In addition, she stepped up her play in NEC action, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 35 chances against league competition. LoPinto became the first Pio to win this award since Fallon Bevino did so in 2019.
Petrovich capped off her outstanding collegiate career with one of her best seasons on her way to her fourth All-NEC honor and her first on the First Team. The graduate student started 45 games this year and posted career highs in batting average (.336), slugging percentage (.507), on-base percentage (.419), runs (29), and triples (2). She was tied for the team lead in triples and was second in batting average, runs, and home runs (5). Defensively, Petrovich played all 45 games in left field and tallied a .958 fielding percentage on 71 chances. She reached a career milestone in SHU's final game of the season against LIU on May 7, as she recorded her 200th career start in 203 appearances.
Gonzalez also ended her historic Sacred Heart career this season, capping it off with her third All-NEC First Team nod. The Beaumont, Calif., native continued to be one of the most potent hitters in the NEC, leading the league with a .636 slugging percentage, 34 RBI, and 13 home runs. She also tallied a career-best 40 hits to go along with 20 runs scored and five doubles in 46 appearances and 43 starts as SHU's designated player. After becoming the Pios' all-time leader in home runs last season, Gonzalez continued to rewrite the record book this year by becoming the first player in program history to hit 50 career homers, doing so against Yale on April 19.
Carroll made a career jump in her junior season to earn her first career selection to an All-NEC team, setting new career highs in batting average (.354), slugging percentage (.537), hits (52), runs (26), RBI (23), doubles (8), and triples (2). The utility player from Ballston Lake, N.Y., led the Pioneers in batting average, hits, and triples, while being tied for second in doubles and home runs (5), while splitting her time between the outfield and first base. In addition, she stepped up her game against NEC competition, batting .400 in league play with nine runs, nine runs batted in, five doubles, two triples, and a home run.
SHU's final honoree on the NEC's end-of-year awards was Henke, who made the All-Rookie Team after a standout debut campaign. The infielder from Carlstadt, N.J., appeared in 46 games, starting 45 at shortstop. She concluded her first collegiate season with a .261 batting average, 33 RBI, 15 runs, 10 doubles, and five homers. Her 10 doubles led the Pios, while her 33 RBI were second on both SHU and in the NEC. Defensively, Henke finished the year third on the team in chances with 163, maintaining a .939 fielding percentage with 69 putouts and 84 assists while contributing to six double plays.
SOMERSET, N.J. – The Sacred Heart University softball team was well represented on Wednesday's 2023 Northeast Conference end-of-year awards. The Pios' acknowledgment was highlighted by two major award winners, as first year pitcher and infielder Sam Kowalski was tabbed the NEC Rookie of the Year, and junior outfielder Victoria LoPinto won the league's Golden Glove Award.
In addition to winning two major awards, SHU placed three on the All-NEC First Team and two on the All-Rookie Team. Amy Petrovich, Alyssa Gonzalez, and Emily Carroll were tabbed First Team All-Conference, while Kowalski joined Nicole Henke on the All-Rookie Team.
Kowalski was named NEC Rookie of the Year and made the All-Rookie team after starting in the circle for 19 of her 26 appearances this season, posting a 9-12 record with a 3.62 ERA. The San Clemente, Calif., native led the NEC with 41 strikeouts looking and was fifth with 117 total Ks. She finished the season with 133.1 innings pitched behind 13 complete games. Kowalski tallied three contests with eight-plus strikeouts, including a 10-K gem against Wagner on April 21. She also tallied 14 hits and 11 RBI at the plate this year. Kowalski became the first Pioneer to win the NEC Rookie of the Year award.
LoPinto earned the NEC's highest defensive prize after serving as the Pioneers' starting center fielder this season. The East Hanover, N.J., native appeared in 46 of 47 games, starting 44. LoPinto finished the year with 79 putouts and six assists with two errors for a stellar .977 fielding percentage. In addition, she stepped up her play in NEC action, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 35 chances against league competition. LoPinto became the first Pio to win this award since Fallon Bevino did so in 2019.
Petrovich capped off her outstanding collegiate career with one of her best seasons on her way to her fourth All-NEC honor and her first on the First Team. The graduate student started 45 games this year and posted career highs in batting average (.336), slugging percentage (.507), on-base percentage (.419), runs (29), and triples (2). She was tied for the team lead in triples and was second in batting average, runs, and home runs (5). Defensively, Petrovich played all 45 games in left field and tallied a .958 fielding percentage on 71 chances. She reached a career milestone in SHU's final game of the season against LIU on May 7, as she recorded her 200th career start in 203 appearances.
Gonzalez also ended her historic Sacred Heart career this season, capping it off with her third All-NEC First Team nod. The Beaumont, Calif., native continued to be one of the most potent hitters in the NEC, leading the league with a .636 slugging percentage, 34 RBI, and 13 home runs. She also tallied a career-best 40 hits to go along with 20 runs scored and five doubles in 46 appearances and 43 starts as SHU's designated player. After becoming the Pios' all-time leader in home runs last season, Gonzalez continued to rewrite the record book this year by becoming the first player in program history to hit 50 career homers, doing so against Yale on April 19.
Carroll made a career jump in her junior season to earn her first career selection to an All-NEC team, setting new career highs in batting average (.354), slugging percentage (.537), hits (52), runs (26), RBI (23), doubles (8), and triples (2). The utility player from Ballston Lake, N.Y., led the Pioneers in batting average, hits, and triples, while being tied for second in doubles and home runs (5), while splitting her time between the outfield and first base. In addition, she stepped up her game against NEC competition, batting .400 in league play with nine runs, nine runs batted in, five doubles, two triples, and a home run.
SHU's final honoree on the NEC's end-of-year awards was Henke, who made the All-Rookie Team after a standout debut campaign. The infielder from Carlstadt, N.J., appeared in 46 games, starting 45 at shortstop. She concluded her first collegiate season with a .261 batting average, 33 RBI, 15 runs, 10 doubles, and five homers. Her 10 doubles led the Pios, while her 33 RBI were second on both SHU and in the NEC. Defensively, Henke finished the year third on the team in chances with 163, maintaining a .939 fielding percentage with 69 putouts and 84 assists while contributing to six double plays.
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