FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team ran its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) win streak to five games on Tuesday with a home doubleheader sweep of Saint Peter's at Pioneer Park. SHU took the opener by a 9-1 final score in six innings before walking off the Peacocks, 7-6, in nine innings in the nightcap.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (16-13, 6-2 MAAC)
Saint Peter's (9-18, 1-7 MAAC)
Game 1: SHU 9, Saint Peter's 1 (6 Inn.)
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 5.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 7 strikeouts, 7-7 record)
Emily Heath (SHU) - (1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Morgan Lipansky (SPU) - (L, 2.1 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 2-4 record)
Brielle Coppola (SPU) - (2.2 innings pitched, 4 earned runs)
Top Performers:
Elle Leckrone – 3-3, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 double
Carly Koltko – 2-3, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run
Of Note:
The Pioneers kicked off the top of the first with a pair of runs to take an early 2-0 lead. Doubles by
Savannah Moore and
Elle Leckrone brought in the game's first run, while a
Carly Koltko single made it a 2-0 game.
Both teams scored in the third inning following a scoreless second. Saint Peter's opened the third with its first run of the game, while SHU hung three on the scoreboard to build a 5-1 advantage. With one on and one out, Leckrone blasted her first collegiate home run with a dart to left field.
Charlene Davis stepped to plate next and also sent a rocket to left field for the Pios' fifth run.
Scoreless fourth and fifth innings followed before SHU iced the game in the bottom of the sixth. Koltko started the sixth with a solo homer. A walk followed before
Nicole Henke sent a no-doubter to left center to make it an 8-1 game.
Olivia Bibbo continued the exciting inning with a triple to center field, scoring on the next at-bat with a suicide squeeze from
Cierra Bender to settle the game with the run rule.
Sam Kowalski threw the first 5.0 innings of the opener, allowing just one run while striking out seven. With the win, she improved to 7-7 on the season.
Emily Heath got SHU's final three outs of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Game 2: SHU 7, Saint Peter's 6 (9 Inn.)
Pitchers:
Carah Sweet (SHU) - (5.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 2 strikeouts)
Emily Heath (SHU) - (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 8-7 record)
Ava White (SPU) - (L, 5.0 innings pitched, 5 earned runs)
Angelina Wagner (SPU) - (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Brielle Coppola (SPU) - (1.2 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout, 0-3 record)
Top Performers:
Nicole Henke – 5-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 double
Elle Leckrone – 2-3, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 double
Jess Brown – 2-5, 2 runs, 1 triple
Of Note:
The Peacocks began game two with a trio of runs, all coming on a two-out double.
Down 3-0, SHU's offense came alive in the bottom of the second. A walk and a single quickly put two on but two outs followed. With runners on second and third,
Sydney Hess drilled a pitch toward the pitcher that took a deflection into left field to allow both runners to score.
SPU added another run in the top of the third, while SHU answered in the home half of the frame. A
Jess Brown triple led to the Pios' run as Leckrone plated her in the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-3 game.
Another extra-base hit led to SHU's next run as Henke led off the fourth with a double. Teodosio then tied the game at 4-4 with a single.
Both teams scored in the fifth, with the Pioneers' run coming off the bat of Henke with a double that plated Leckrone from second after she hit a double.
The Peacocks capitalized off a Pios' error to break the tie in the sixth to build a 6-5 lead.
Down by one, SHU's back was against the wall in the bottom of the seventh. Leckrone answered the call with a sac fly to right after Brown made it to third following a sinlge and a two-base error by SPU.
For the first time this season, the Pioneers went to extra innings. Neither team scored in the eighth, and SHU held the Peacocks scoreless at the top of the ninth. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out for the Pios with one out. Needing just a sac fly to win, Kowalski did just that to plate Leckrone to earn the 7-6 victory.
Carah Sweet, Heath and Kowalski all pitched in game two. Sweet threw 5.0 innings, allowing four earned. Heath threw the next 2.0 innings. Kowalski tossed the final 2.0 frames for SHU, not allowing a baserunner while striking out four of her six batters. She earned the victory to improve to 8-7 on the season. With 11 strikeouts on the day, she already has 99 this season.
At the plate, Henke went an outstanding 5-5 with a run, RBI and a double.
Up Next:
The Pioneers hit the road tomorrow for a doubleheader at Yale, beginning at 2:30 p.m. in New Haven, Conn.
