Sacred Heart
5-12, 2-1
Canisius
4-8, 0-0
Bender's Five RBIs Lead Pios to 6-2 win in Doubeleheader Split with Canisius
3/14/2026 5:27:00 PM | Softball
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team split its Saturday afternoon MAAC doubleheader with the Canisius Golden Griffins at Pioneer Park. The Pios opened up the day with a 6-2 victory, while Canisius rebounded to take the night cap 9-1.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (6-13, 3-2 MAAC)
Canisius (5-9, 1-1 MAAC)
Game 1: SHU 6, Canisius 2
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalksi (SHU) – (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 7 strikeouts, 4-5 record)
Olivia Manchester (CAN) – (L, 3.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 2-2 record)
Liv Harrington (CAN) – (3.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts)
Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 2-3, 5 RBI, 1 run, 1 double
Nicole Henke – 2-3, 2 runs
Ella Stoops – 2-3, 1 run
Sam Kowalski – 1-4, 1 RBI
How It Happened:
The Pios defense opened up the game strong with backstop Charlene Davis showing off her arm, catching three runners attempting to steal in the first two innings, two a second and one at third. Offensively, Cierra Bender would come up clutch with a two out line drive single to center with the bases loaded that drove in two runs giving pitcher Sam Kowalksi the early lead.
After a scoreless third inning for both teams, the Pios bats got to work early in the fourth with back-to-back singles followed by a ball to load the bases for Bender who kept her hot bat going. The second baseman sent a 1-1 pitch over the left fielder's head to the base of the wall allowing all three runs to score. Bender was rewarded on the next at bat when her starting pitcher Sam Kowalksi singled to right allowing Bender to score from second.
The Golden Griffins managed to get a pair back in the top of the fifth thanks to a single swing of the bat as Ellie Johel lifted a 2-2 pitch into the net in left field for a two-run homerun. Kowalski would rebound to strand three runners on over the next two-and-a-third innings while Davis would add another caught stealing to her credit, her fourth of the game.
Game 2: Canisius 9, SHU 1
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (3.1 innings pitched, 7 runs allowed, 6 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 1-7 record)
Emily Campion (SHU) – (1.2 innings pitched, 2 earned runs)
Mikaila Obenrader (CAN) – (5.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout, 1-3 record)
Top Performers:
Charlene Davis – 1-2, 1 RBI
Elle Leckrone, 1-3, 1 run
How It Happened:
Both teams would open up game two with three hits in the first inning with the Pioneers able to capitalize for a single run and the early 1-0 lead. Canisius managed to get the run back in the top of the second when a lead off error came back to haunt the Pioneers.
The Golden Griffins would then make the most of their half of the third inning, plating five runs. Rebecca Hai got the scoring started with a two RBI single up the middle while it was Ella Johel with the big bat, sending her second home run of the day over the fence in left center for a three-run homerun.
Canisius would manage three more runs over the fourth and fifth innings to secure the run-rule victory.
Notes:
- SHU has split its first two MAAC weekend doubleheaders.
- Bender set a new career-high with five RBI's
- Kowalski has earned complete-game wins in her last three starts.
- Leckrone, Kowalski and Henke had hits in both games.
- Leckrone has a hit in six of her last seven games.
- Henke had her first multi-hit game of the season in the opener.
- Stoops had the first multi-hit game of her career the first contest.
Up Next:
The Pioneers host Canisius tomorrow at noon for the rubber match of this weekend's series.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kowalski, Sam (4-5)
L: Olivia Manchester (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Ella Johel 1 ; Maddy Hans 1
HR: Ella Johel 1
RBI: Ella Johel 2
SH: Alyssa Onyeagwa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ella Johel 1 ; Maddy Hans 1
CS: Ella Johel 1 ; Mia Martin 1 ; Bailey Alatorre 1 ; Grace Walker 1
Batting:
2B: Bender, Cierra 1
RBI: Bender, Cierra 5 ; Kowalski, Sam 1
SH: Bender, Cierra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Leckrone, Elle 1 ; Bender, Cierra 1 ; Stoops, Ella 1 ; Henke, Nicole 2 ; Freed, Kaelyn 1
