FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team took both ends of its series-opening doubleheader against Stonehill Friday at Pioneer Park, winning game one by an 8-0 final score in five innings before securing a 5-2 triumph in game two. 

With two victories today, the Pioneers improved to 6-1 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play, which puts them second in the league standings. After today's wins, head coach Pam London is up to 349 wins in her illustrious career leading the Pios. 

Team Records:
Sacred Heart (12-17, 6-1 NEC)
Stonehill (6-18, 1-7 NEC)

Game 1 – SHU 8, Stonehill 0 (5 inn.)
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 5.0 innings pitched, 4 strikeouts, 6-8 record)
Alexa Hospodar (STO) – (L, 0.1 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 2-5 record)
Alex Sciaretto (STO) – (3.2 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)

Top Performers:
Carly Koltko (SHU) – 2-3, 1 run, 2 RBIs, 1 home run
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – 2-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
Charlene Davis (SHU) – 2-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
Jenna Mowad (SHU) – 2-2, 1 run, 2 RBIs, 1 home run

Of Note:
The Pioneers' bats came alive in the bottom of the first, as the hosts scored six runs on seven hits to take the early lead over the Skyhawks. Carly Koltko kicked things off for the red-and-white with an RBI single to right field, sending Cierra Bender home for the first of the game. Back-to-back RBI singles from Sam Kowalski and a Nicole Henke triple helped the Pioneers' lead grow to 3-0. 

Despite a pitching change for the Skyhawks, SHU kept on swinging the bat as Charlene Davis drove in Kowalski from third before a walk from Morgan Teodosio loaded the bases, setting up Jenna Mowad, who drove in the fifth run of the game behind an RBI single to left field. The final run of the inning came shortly after on sacrifice fly from Victoria LoPinto.

Following a 1-2-3 inning by the Skyhawks, the Pioneers went back to work at the plate, adding another run on the scoreboard, 7-0, as Koltko recorded her third home run of the season in the bottom of the second.

The Skyhawks threatened the hosts in the top of the third by loading the bases, but a Skyhawk lined into a double play to strand the runners on base.

The bottom half of the third saw the Pioneers tack on an additional run following Mowad's second home run of the season.

Trailing 8-0, Stonehill was held hitless over the next two innings, succumbing to the Pioneers in a five-inning mercy. 

With the win, the Pioneers earned their fourth shutout of the season, while Kowalski collected her sixth win and third shutout of the year after throwing her sixth complete game.  

Game 2 – SHU 5, Stonehill 2
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts, 6-7 record)
Skylar Brandemarte (STO) – (L, 6.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 3-7 record)

Top Performers:
Carly Koltko (SHU) – 2-3, 1 run, 1 double
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – 3-3, 1 run
Victoria LoPinto (SHU) – 2-3, 1 walk

Of Note:
The Pioneers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. With three on and one out, Teodosio brought the first run in with an RBI groundout to second base. Two more runs scored in the following at-bat, as Stonehill's third baseman rocketed a throw over first base on a Mowad groundout to score Davis and Henke. 

Kowalski, who went 3-for-3 at the plate in game two, helped bring in SHU's fourth run, as the sophomore sent a single to left field before advancing to second. While trying to catch Kowalski at second, the visiting third baseman threw the ball away to allow Koltko to score from third. 

The Pios' lead grew to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth after an RBI from Bender. With two on and two out, the first year infielder fired a single to center field, which allowed Davis to rocket around third to score easily. 

A five-run cushion was more than enough for Emily Heath. The sophomore hurler threw all 7.0 innings, allowing a run in the fifth and seventh innings on the way to her sixth win of the season. She finished the game with three strikeouts while allowing just four hits. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers close out the three-game series with the Skyhawks on Saturday, March 30, at Pioneers Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.