
Photo by: Andy Mead/YCJ
Softball Earns 3-2 Win over Drexel for First Victory of Season
2/18/2024 2:01:00 PM | Softball
LoPinto’s first career home run broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Behind a tie-breaking home run from Victoria LoPinto, the Sacred Heart University softball team ended the Spiro Classic with a 3-2 win over Drexel on Sunday morning in Greensboro, N.C.
Team Records
Sacred Heart (1-4)
Drexel (1-9)
SHU 3, DU 2
Pitchers:
Carly Koltko (SHU) - (3.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Emily Heath (SHU) - (W, 4.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 1-2 record)
Natalie Alldred (DU) - (2.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 strikeout)
Allison Hoppe (DU) - (L, 5.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts, 0-3 record)
Top Performers:
Victoria LoPinto (SHU) – 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 home run
Cierra Bender (SHU) – 2-4, 1 run, 1 double
Of Note:
The Pioneers came out firing in the first inning, tallying three hits and putting the game's first run on the scoreboard. Cierra Bender got things going with a double to center before Emily Carroll drove her home with an RBI single. Bender's double is the first hit of her young career.
SHU kept the Dragons on their toes in the second, adding one more run to their lead to make it a 2-0 game. Nicole Henke started things off with a single, followed by a pair of groundouts. Jess Brown was ready for the moment as the first year calmly hit a two-out single up the middle to drive Henke home from third.
Following a scoreless third, Drexel evened the game in the bottom of the fourth. The Dragons' Kalea Calugay and Mia Garza hit back-to-back solo shots to knot the score at 2-2.
LoPinto must have been inspired by what her opponents had just done as she led off the fifth with a solo home run to center field. The homer is the first of the senior captain's career.
With the lead, SHU's pitchers slammed the door shut on Drexel by allowing just one hit over the final 3.0 innings. Carly Koltko started and went 3.0 frames, allowing two earned with three strikeouts. Emily Heath entered in relief, allowing no runs and one hit over 4.0 innings. With her impressive relief appearance, Heath earned the first win of her sophomore season.
Up Next
The Pioneers are next scheduled to play on Saturday, Feb. 24, with a home twin bill against Fordham. The first of the two games is slated for a noon start at Pioneer Park.
Team Records
Sacred Heart (1-4)
Drexel (1-9)
SHU 3, DU 2
Pitchers:
Carly Koltko (SHU) - (3.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Emily Heath (SHU) - (W, 4.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 1-2 record)
Natalie Alldred (DU) - (2.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 strikeout)
Allison Hoppe (DU) - (L, 5.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts, 0-3 record)
Top Performers:
Victoria LoPinto (SHU) – 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 home run
Cierra Bender (SHU) – 2-4, 1 run, 1 double
Of Note:
The Pioneers came out firing in the first inning, tallying three hits and putting the game's first run on the scoreboard. Cierra Bender got things going with a double to center before Emily Carroll drove her home with an RBI single. Bender's double is the first hit of her young career.
SHU kept the Dragons on their toes in the second, adding one more run to their lead to make it a 2-0 game. Nicole Henke started things off with a single, followed by a pair of groundouts. Jess Brown was ready for the moment as the first year calmly hit a two-out single up the middle to drive Henke home from third.
Following a scoreless third, Drexel evened the game in the bottom of the fourth. The Dragons' Kalea Calugay and Mia Garza hit back-to-back solo shots to knot the score at 2-2.
LoPinto must have been inspired by what her opponents had just done as she led off the fifth with a solo home run to center field. The homer is the first of the senior captain's career.
With the lead, SHU's pitchers slammed the door shut on Drexel by allowing just one hit over the final 3.0 innings. Carly Koltko started and went 3.0 frames, allowing two earned with three strikeouts. Emily Heath entered in relief, allowing no runs and one hit over 4.0 innings. With her impressive relief appearance, Heath earned the first win of her sophomore season.
Up Next
The Pioneers are next scheduled to play on Saturday, Feb. 24, with a home twin bill against Fordham. The first of the two games is slated for a noon start at Pioneer Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Heath, Emily (1-2)
L: Hoppe, Allison (0-3)

Batting:
2B: Bender, Cierra 1
HR: LoPinto, Victoria 1
RBI: Brown, Jess 1 ; Carroll, Emily 1 ; LoPinto, Victoria 1
SH: Davis, Charlene 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bender, Cierra 1 ; Henke, Nicole 1 ; LoPinto, Victoria 1
HBP: Kohler, Rachael 1

Batting:
HR: Calugay, Kalea 1 ; Garza, Mia 1
RBI: Calugay, Kalea 1 ; Garza, Mia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Calugay, Kalea 1 ; Garza, Mia 1
Game Leaders
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