Sacred Heart
9-15, 6-1
Manhattan
5-17, 1-3
Softball Takes Two from Manhattan
3/21/2026 7:04:00 PM | Softball
Sam Kowalski tosses one-hit shutout in Game 1; Pioneers rally late to secure 8-6 win in Game 2
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart University softball team took care of business on Saturday afternoon at Gaelic Park, sweeping a doubleheader against the Manhattan Jaspers to improve to 6-2 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play.
In game one, Sam Kowalski dominated in the circle, allowing just one hit en route to her second shutout of the season. In game two, Manhattan battled back to tie the game at 4-4, but the Pioneers responded with resilience, pulling away late to secure the 8-6 victory and complete the afternoon sweep.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (9-16, 6-2 MAAC)
Manhattan (5-18, 1-3 MAAC)
Game 1: SHU 1, Manhattan 0 (8 inn)
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 8.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 8 strikeouts, 6-6 record)
Karissa Spring (Manhattan) – (L, 8.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 2 strikeouts, 0-5 record)
Top Performers:
Sam Kowalski - 3-4, 1 RBI
Kira Palmer - 2-3, 1 run scored
Charlene Davis - 1-3
How It Happened:
Both teams were locked in a pitching battle from the start, combining for just five hits through the first seven innings. Sacred Heart threatened early, collecting one or more hits in the first, third, and fourth innings, but Manhattan worked out of trouble each time to keep the game scoreless.
In the circle, Sam Kowalski was dominant throughout. The standout senior retired the side in order in five of the first six innings, while the defense backed the effort with clean play and timely outs.
Sacred Heart finally broke through in the eighth. After a one-out single from Kira Palmer, she advanced into scoring position before Cierra Bender delivered the game's lone run with an RBI single to left field, giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
Kowalski shut the door in the bottom half of the inning. After a flyout to begin the frame, Sacred Heart recorded back-to-back strikeouts to seal the victory. Kowalski finished the game with eight strikeouts and picked up her fifth straight complete-game victory in conference play.
Game 2: SHU 8, Manhattan 6
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (3.1 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 3.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 5 strikeouts, 7-6 record)
Natalye DeBus (Manhattan) – (L, 7.0 innings pitched, 6 earned run, 2 strikeouts, 3-3 record)
Top Performers:
Sam Kowalski – 3-4 | 2 RBI | 1 run scored
Charlene Davis – 3-4 | 3 RBI
Savannah Moore – 2-3
How it Happened:
Sacred Heart jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against Manhattan, capitalizing on timely hitting and defensive miscues. In the first inning, Elle Leckrone opened the offense with a double to center field, before crossing home plate courtesy of a Jaspers' fielding error. Sam Kowalski followed with a double to drive in Bender, and Nicole Henke extended the lead with an RBI single that plated Kowalski.
Manhattan responded in the bottom of the first, as Natalye DeBus drove in Brianna Estevez to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Both teams traded runs in the second inning, with Charlene Davis bringing home Bender for Sacred Heart and Isabella Coulman answering with an RBI single to score Sophia Hannappel, making it 4-2.
The Jaspers rallied in the third to tie the game. Lainey Brown reached on an error to score Adriana Giomi, and Jamie Falotico's single led to another run crossing the plate following a Sacred Heart error, evening the score at 4-4.
Sacred Heart regained control in the fourth inning. Davis delivered a two-RBI single to left field, and Alexa Barbera followed with an RBI hit to give the Pioneers a 7-4 advantage. Manhattan answered quickly, as DeBus launched a two-run home run to left, narrowing the gap to 7-6.
The Pioneers added an insurance run in the fifth when Kowalski singled to bring in Leckrone, extending the lead to 8-6. Manhattan threatened late, including a two-out single from Kendall Penny in the final inning, but could not push across a run as Sacred Heart held on to secure the Saturday sweep.
Up Next:
The Pioneers conclude the three-game series with the Jaspers tomorrow, March 22, with a single contest at 12:00 PM.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kowalski, Sam (6-6)
L: Karissa Spring (0-5)
Batting:
RBI: Bender, Cierra 1
SH: Burras, Katherine 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Palmer, Kira 1
Base Running:
SB: Isabella Coulman 1
