Tuesday, March 17
Stony Brook, NY
1:00 PM
Sacred Heart
7-14
4
at
5
Stony Brook
6-17
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
10th innning10
11th innning11
12th innning12
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Sacred Heart
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
4
12
2
Stony Brook
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
2
5
11
0
Photo by: Josh Gee
Softball Bested in 12 Inning Thriller at Stony Brook
3/17/2026 7:52:00 PM | Softball
Leckrone and Bender both had three hits and multiple doubles
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart University softball team went 12 innings against Stony Brook on Tuesday afternoon, but suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 loss at University Field in Stony Brook, N.Y.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (5-12)
Stony Brook (6-17)
Stony Brook 5, SHU 4 (12 innings)
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) - (L, 7.2 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 1-8 record)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (4.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 4 strikeouts)
Aubrey Jepson (SB) - (0.0 innings pitched)
Crimson Rice (SB) - (6.2 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Jayci Finch (SB) - (5.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts)
Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 3-5, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 2 doubles
Elle Leckrone – 3-5, 3 runs, 3 doubles
How It Happened:
Both teams scored in the first inning, with the Pios getting a run after a walk and two singles. Katherine Burras plated Elle Leckrone with an RBI single to make it 1-0 SHU. However, the Seawolves tied the score in the next half inning, as the game went to the second knotted at 1-1.
After a three-inning scoreless streak, Cierra Bender broke the deadlock with an RBI single after Leckrone hit a two-out double to left center.
SHU's 2-1 lead lasted until the bottom of the sixth, when Stony Brook scored twice to take a 3-2 advantage.
The pendulum again swung back to the center in the top of the seventh, as Bender and Leckrone again worked together to tie the game. This time, the duo hit back-to-back doubles to even the score at 3-3, eventually forcing extra innings.
The eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th ended all went scoreless as the game would be decided in the 12th.
SHU struck first, taking a 4-3 lead by capitalizing on another Bender double, as she scored three batters later on an Alexa Barbera single.
Unfortunately, the Seawolves were again ready with an answer, as a solo homer tied the game and a bases-loaded single ended it. All three of Stony Brooks hits in the inning came with two outs.
Emily Heath and Sam Kowalski both appeared in the circle for SHU. Heath started and threw 7.2 innings, allowing four earned runs, while striking out four batters. Kowalski tossed 4.0 innings and struck out four batters without giving up a run.
Notes:
Up Next:
The Pios are home tomorrow for a doubleheader against Harvard, beginning with a 2 p.m. opener.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (5-12)
Stony Brook (6-17)
Stony Brook 5, SHU 4 (12 innings)
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) - (L, 7.2 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 1-8 record)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (4.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 4 strikeouts)
Aubrey Jepson (SB) - (0.0 innings pitched)
Crimson Rice (SB) - (6.2 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Jayci Finch (SB) - (5.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts)
Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 3-5, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 2 doubles
Elle Leckrone – 3-5, 3 runs, 3 doubles
How It Happened:
Both teams scored in the first inning, with the Pios getting a run after a walk and two singles. Katherine Burras plated Elle Leckrone with an RBI single to make it 1-0 SHU. However, the Seawolves tied the score in the next half inning, as the game went to the second knotted at 1-1.
After a three-inning scoreless streak, Cierra Bender broke the deadlock with an RBI single after Leckrone hit a two-out double to left center.
SHU's 2-1 lead lasted until the bottom of the sixth, when Stony Brook scored twice to take a 3-2 advantage.
The pendulum again swung back to the center in the top of the seventh, as Bender and Leckrone again worked together to tie the game. This time, the duo hit back-to-back doubles to even the score at 3-3, eventually forcing extra innings.
The eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th ended all went scoreless as the game would be decided in the 12th.
SHU struck first, taking a 4-3 lead by capitalizing on another Bender double, as she scored three batters later on an Alexa Barbera single.
Unfortunately, the Seawolves were again ready with an answer, as a solo homer tied the game and a bases-loaded single ended it. All three of Stony Brooks hits in the inning came with two outs.
Emily Heath and Sam Kowalski both appeared in the circle for SHU. Heath started and threw 7.2 innings, allowing four earned runs, while striking out four batters. Kowalski tossed 4.0 innings and struck out four batters without giving up a run.
Notes:
- SHU falls to 0-6 on the road this season.
- The Pios outhit the Seawolves, 12-11.
- Kowalski hasn't allowed more than two runs in her last six appearances.
- Bender has already hit nine doubles this season, tripling her previous career high.
- Bender has a hit in four of her last five games.
- Leckrone is on a four-game hit streak and has a hit in eight of her last nine games.
- Leckrone set a new career high with three doubles today.
- Burras tallied her first multi-hit game as a Pioneer.
Up Next:
The Pios are home tomorrow for a doubleheader against Harvard, beginning with a 2 p.m. opener.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: J. Finch (4-4)
L: Heath, Emily (1-8)
Batting:
2B: Leckrone, Elle 3 ; Bender, Cierra 2
RBI: Bender, Cierra 2 ; Burras, Katherine 1 ; Barbera, Alexa 1
SH: Bender, Cierra 1 ; Palmer, Kira 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Leckrone, Elle 3 ; Bender, Cierra 1
Batting:
2B: R. Brown 1 ; A. Burgess 1 ; N. Ackerman 1
HR: R. Brown 1
RBI: R. Brown 1 ; A. Burgess 1 ; K. Pritchard 2 ; M. Stepski 1
Base Running:
RUNS: E. Gonzalez 2 ; R. Brown 1 ; E. Valentine 1 ; K. Simpkins 1
SB: E. Gonzalez 1
HBP: M. Thalassino 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
dp/ph
AB
6
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballP/INF
/ SoftballP/UTL
/ SoftballSaige Harper Paris 2024
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