Sunday, March 15
Fairfield, CT
12:00 PM
Sacred Heart
5-11, 4-2
4
vs
1
Canisius
5-10, 1-2
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Canisius
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
5
1
Sacred Heart
0
0
1
0
0
3
X
4
8
1
Photo by: Josh Gee
Softball Tops Canisius 4-1 on Sunday to Clinch Series Win
3/15/2026 6:05:00 PM | Softball
Kowalski has a complete-game win in her last four starts
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team claimed a 2-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) series win over Canisius on Sunday afternoon with a 4-1 victory at Pioneer Park. Sam Kowalski struck out seven batters in her fourth-straight complete-game win as a starter.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (5-11, 4-2 MAAC)
Canisius (5-10, 1-2 MAAC)
SHU 4, Canisius 1
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 1 earned runs, 7 strikeouts, 5-5 record)
Mikaila Obenrader (Canisius) - (L, 2.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1-4 record)
Taylor McManus (Canisius) - (2.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout)
Liv Harrington (Canisius) - (0.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs)
Brooke Bodewes (Canisius) - (0.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
Elle Leckrone – 1-4, 2 RBIs
How It Happened:
The Pios broke onto the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning, taking advantage of a Griffs' error to build a 1-0 lead. Cierra Bender got on first with a one-out single before an error and a fielder's choice brought her home.
After Bender's run, the game went 2.5 innings without any scoring. In the bottom of the sixth, the Pios scored three insurance runs to go ahead 4-0. Elle Leckrone started the scoring with a two-run, two-out single to right field. Bender struck again to plate the fourth run with a single that brought Kira Palmer home.
The Golden Griffins ended up getting one run in the seventh to spoil the shutout for Sam Kowalski in the circle. The senior ended up with seven strikeouts in her fourth consecutive start with a complete-game win.
Notes:
Up Next:
Sacred Heart next heads to Stony Brook on Tuesday, March 17, for a single game at 1 p.m. in Stony Brook, N.Y.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (5-11, 4-2 MAAC)
Canisius (5-10, 1-2 MAAC)
SHU 4, Canisius 1
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 1 earned runs, 7 strikeouts, 5-5 record)
Mikaila Obenrader (Canisius) - (L, 2.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1-4 record)
Taylor McManus (Canisius) - (2.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout)
Liv Harrington (Canisius) - (0.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs)
Brooke Bodewes (Canisius) - (0.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
Elle Leckrone – 1-4, 2 RBIs
How It Happened:
The Pios broke onto the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning, taking advantage of a Griffs' error to build a 1-0 lead. Cierra Bender got on first with a one-out single before an error and a fielder's choice brought her home.
After Bender's run, the game went 2.5 innings without any scoring. In the bottom of the sixth, the Pios scored three insurance runs to go ahead 4-0. Elle Leckrone started the scoring with a two-run, two-out single to right field. Bender struck again to plate the fourth run with a single that brought Kira Palmer home.
The Golden Griffins ended up getting one run in the seventh to spoil the shutout for Sam Kowalski in the circle. The senior ended up with seven strikeouts in her fourth consecutive start with a complete-game win.
Notes:
- SHU has won its first two MAAC series of the season.
- The Pios improve to 5-3 at home this season
- Kowalski has a complete-game win in her last four starts.
- Kowalski has been the winning pitcher in all four of SHU's MAAC victories this season.
- Leckrone has a hit in three straight games.
Up Next:
Sacred Heart next heads to Stony Brook on Tuesday, March 17, for a single game at 1 p.m. in Stony Brook, N.Y.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kowalski, Sam (5-5)
L: Mikaila Obenrader (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Talia Yermain 1
RBI: Rebecca Hai 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Talia Yermain 1
Batting:
2B: Hotle, Kathryn 1
RBI: Leckrone, Elle 2 ; Bender, Cierra 1 ; Davis, Charlene 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bender, Cierra 1 ; Henke, Nicole 1 ; Hotle, Kathryn 1 ; Palmer, Kira 1
SB: Leckrone, Elle 1 ; Bibbo, Olivia 1 ; Lichtenberger, Ava 1
HBP: Kowalski, Sam 1 ; Hotle, Kathryn 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballP/INF
/ SoftballP/UTL
/ Softball
UTL
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