Wednesday, March 11
Fairfield, Conn.
2:00 PM
Sacred Heart
5-11
4
vs
1
Hofstra
6-11
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Hofstra
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
4
1
Sacred Heart
0
0
2
2
0
0
X
4
6
0
Photo by: Katelynn Wiesniewski
Softball Splits Home Doubleheader versus Hofstra
3/11/2026 9:05:00 PM | Softball
Campion collected her first collegiate win in the opener
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team split a nonconference doubleheader against Hofstra on Wednesday afternoon, winning the first game 4-1 before dropping an 8-1 decision in game two at Pioneer Park.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (5-12)
Hofstra (7-11)
Game 1: SHU 4, Hofstra 1
Pitchers:
Emily Campion (SHU) - (W, 6.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 3 strike outs, 1-0 record)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (S, 1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strike outs, 1 save)
Emma Falen (Hofstra) - (L, 4.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 2-6 record)
Kailyn Haig (Hofstra) - (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Top Performers:
Elle Leckrone – 2-3, 2 RBIs, 1 double
Kira Palmer – 1-2, 2 runs
How It Happened:
After a scoreless first 2.5 innings, the Pioneers broke onto the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third. The Pios took advantage of an error after loading the bases with no outs in the inning. Cierra Bender sent a ball to short that should have plated one run, but the fielder let the ball go through her legs allowing two Pioneers to score to make it 2-0.
SHU added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 4-0. After two hit-by-pitches and a double loaded the bases, Elle Leckrone continued her scorching play with a double to center field to plate Kira Palmer and Kaelyn Freed.
SHU's starter Emily Campion made the most of her four-run cushion, allowing just one run on her way to her first collegiate win. The Excelsior, Minn., native struck out three batters over 6.0 innings. Sam Kowalski got the final three outs, striking out two of three batters to get her first save of the season.
Game 2: Hofstra 8, SHU 1
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) - (L, 7.0 innings pitched, 8 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, 1-6 record)
Madison Steppe (Hofstra) - (W, 4.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout, 4-3 record)
Kailyn Haig (Hofstra) - (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts)
Emma Brennan (Hofstra) - (1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts)
Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 2-4, 1 run, 1 double
Charlene Davis – 1-3, 1 RBI
How It Happened:
The start of the nightcap looked promising for the Pioneers, as a one-out double from Cierra Bender turned into the game's first run. Charlene Davis singled two at-bats later to drive Bender home from second to make it 1-0 SHU.
Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Bender's run marked the end of their scoring in the game.
However, the Pride took advantage of a pop-up rainstorm to take control of the contest. Hofstra scored one run in the third and fifth innings and six runs in the fourth. There was a substantial downpour during the third and fourth innings, which led to SHU struggling to get outs.
Emily Heath started in the second game, going all 7.0 innings with a season-high six strikeouts.
Notes:
Up Next:
The Pioneers get back to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Saturday, March 14, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Canisius.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (5-12)
Hofstra (7-11)
Game 1: SHU 4, Hofstra 1
Pitchers:
Emily Campion (SHU) - (W, 6.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 3 strike outs, 1-0 record)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (S, 1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strike outs, 1 save)
Emma Falen (Hofstra) - (L, 4.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 2-6 record)
Kailyn Haig (Hofstra) - (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Top Performers:
Elle Leckrone – 2-3, 2 RBIs, 1 double
Kira Palmer – 1-2, 2 runs
How It Happened:
After a scoreless first 2.5 innings, the Pioneers broke onto the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third. The Pios took advantage of an error after loading the bases with no outs in the inning. Cierra Bender sent a ball to short that should have plated one run, but the fielder let the ball go through her legs allowing two Pioneers to score to make it 2-0.
SHU added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 4-0. After two hit-by-pitches and a double loaded the bases, Elle Leckrone continued her scorching play with a double to center field to plate Kira Palmer and Kaelyn Freed.
SHU's starter Emily Campion made the most of her four-run cushion, allowing just one run on her way to her first collegiate win. The Excelsior, Minn., native struck out three batters over 6.0 innings. Sam Kowalski got the final three outs, striking out two of three batters to get her first save of the season.
Game 2: Hofstra 8, SHU 1
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) - (L, 7.0 innings pitched, 8 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, 1-6 record)
Madison Steppe (Hofstra) - (W, 4.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout, 4-3 record)
Kailyn Haig (Hofstra) - (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts)
Emma Brennan (Hofstra) - (1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts)
Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 2-4, 1 run, 1 double
Charlene Davis – 1-3, 1 RBI
How It Happened:
The start of the nightcap looked promising for the Pioneers, as a one-out double from Cierra Bender turned into the game's first run. Charlene Davis singled two at-bats later to drive Bender home from second to make it 1-0 SHU.
Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Bender's run marked the end of their scoring in the game.
However, the Pride took advantage of a pop-up rainstorm to take control of the contest. Hofstra scored one run in the third and fifth innings and six runs in the fourth. There was a substantial downpour during the third and fourth innings, which led to SHU struggling to get outs.
Emily Heath started in the second game, going all 7.0 innings with a season-high six strikeouts.
Notes:
- SHU is 3-2 at home this season.
- Campion collected her first collegiate win.
- Kowalski earned her first save of the season.
- Heath had a season-high six strikeouts in the nightcap.
- Leckrone tallied her sixth multi-hit game of the season.
- Kayla Roe scored her first run of the year.
- Bender hit her sixth double of the season in game two.
Up Next:
The Pioneers get back to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Saturday, March 14, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Canisius.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Campion, Emily (1-0)
L: Falen, E. (2-6)
S: Kowalski, Sam (1)
Batting:
RBI: Frobosilo, V 1
Base Running:
RUNS: D'Orazio, G 1
SB: D'Orazio, G 2
CS: D'Orazio, G 1
Batting:
2B: Leckrone, Elle 1 ; Freed, Kaelyn 1
RBI: Leckrone, Elle 2 ; Bender, Cierra 1
SH: Bender, Cierra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Freed, Kaelyn 1 ; Roe, Kayla 1 ; Palmer, Kira 2
CS: Henke, Nicole 1
HBP: Henke, Nicole 1 ; Palmer, Kira 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/INF
/ SoftballP/UTL
/ SoftballUTL
/ SoftballSaige Harper Paris 2024
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