Kowalski’s Walk Off Homer Leads Softball to Split on Opening Day

Friday, February 13

Charleston, SC

10:00 AM

Sacred Heart

1-0

Akron

1-6

Akron

Sacred Heart

Photo by: Josh Gee

Kowalski’s Walk Off Homer Leads Softball to Split on Opening Day

2/13/2026 5:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Kowalski threw all 9.0 innings before hitting the homer to seal it

By: Josh Smith

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Sam Kowalski slammed a walk-off home run to lead the Sacred Heart University softball team to a thrilling 3-1 win over Akron in nine innings on Friday morning at the Lowcountry Classic in Charleston, S.C. The Pios dropped an 8-0 decision to host Charleston Southern in the second game to leave the first day of the season with a split.

Team Records:
Sacred Heart (1-1)
Akron (1-6)
Charleston Southern (2-5)

Game 1: SHU 3, Akron 1 (9 inn.)
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 9.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 10 strikeouts, 1-0 record)
Madie Jamrog (Akron) - (L, 8.2 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts, 0-3 record)

Top Performers:
Sam Kowalski – 1-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 1 home run

How It Happened:
The start of today's opener was dominated by the starting pitchers, as the game's first seven innings were scoreless. Through the first seven innings, Kowalski allowed three hits and struck out nine batters.

Both Elle Leckrone and Charlene Davis tallied hits for the Pioneers in the first seven innings, but the offense did not produce any runs, and the game headed to extra innings still scoreless.

The Zips took the first lead of the day with a two-out double in the eighth to go ahead 1-0.

SHU answered in the bottom of the inning, with Teagan Dwyer bunting Kowalski from second to third, which allowed Kaelyn Freed to drive in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.

Tied at 1-1 heading to the top of the ninth, Kowalski shut down the Akron offense, tallying her 10th strikeout to give the Pios a prime chance to win in the home half of the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Kira Palmer came in to pinch run, getting to third after a flyout to right. Unfortunately for SHU, a shallow fly to right field gave the team two outs. Kowalski answered by turning on a pitch to decide the game once and for all.

Game 2: CSU 8, SHU 0 (5 inn.)
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) - (L, 3.2 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 0-1 record)
Emily Campion (SHU) - (1.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 0 strikeouts)
Riley Lauffer (CSU) - (W, 5.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 1-1 record)

Top Performers:
Alexa Barbera – 1-2
Cierra Bender– 1-2

How It Happened:
The Pioneers' second game of the day started slowly as the first two innings stood scoreless. The Buccaneers took control in the third, putting three on the scoreboard in the frame.

A two-run fourth inning widened the margin, while a three-run fifth sealed the win for Charleston Southern, 8-0 in five innings.

Alexa Barbera and Cierra Bender tallied SHU's two hits in the nightcap.

Emily Heath and Emily Campion saw time in the circle for the Pios. Heath started and went 3.2 innings, while Campion made her collegiate debut with 1.0 innings.

Notes:

SHU opened the season with a win for the first time since 2023.
Kowalski hit her second career home run in the opener, her first since her sophomore season.
Kowalski tallied 10 strikeouts today, a number she reached just twice last season.
First years Dwyer, Palmer and Ella Stoops all made their collegiate debuts in game one.
Campion made her debut in the circle against the Bucs.

Up Next:
The Pioneers continue the Lowcountry Classic tomorrow with games against UMass and Penn. SHU will play the Minutewomen first at 10 a.m. before battling the Quakers at 12:30 p.m.