Sunday, March 29
Buffalo, NY
12:00 PM
Sacred Heart
12-17, 7-3
3
at
0
Niagara
0-16, 0-9
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Sacred Heart
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
3
7
0
Niagara
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
Photo by: Bob Solorio
Softball Sweeps Niagara on Sunday
3/29/2026 5:22:00 PM | Softball
Kowalski and Henke both homered in the doubleheader
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart University softball team collected its second consecutive doubleheader sweep on Sunday, taking both ends of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) twin bill against Niagara at the University of Buffalo. The Pios took game one 3-0 behind another outstanding showing from Sam Kowalski before the offense exploded for a 13-4 win in six innings in game two. The first game of the weekend series was canceled yesterday due to unplayable field conditions at Niagara.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (13-17, 8-3 MAAC)
Niagara (0-17, 0-10 MAAC)
Game 1: SHU 3, Niagara 0
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, 9-7 record)
Ryan Hatty (Niagara) – (L, 6.1 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 0-5 record)
Abbey Steen (Niagara) – (0.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout)
Top Performers:
Sam Kowalski – 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 home run
Elle Leckrone – 1-2, 1 run, 2 walks
How It Happened:
Today's doubleheader started off slow as the first run of the day was not scored until the fifth inning. Kowalski was cruising to start, striking out five of her first six batters before bringing in the opening run. In the top of the fifth, SHU loaded the bases with two singles and a Purple Eagles' error before Kowalski plated Elle Leckrone with a single to left field.
Sacred Heart added an insurance run in the sixth after again loading the bases. Kathryn Hotle smacked a sacrifice fly to center field to play Kaelyn Freed to make it 2-0 SHU.
Kowalski capped an all-around performance with a solo home run to make it 3-0. The senior slammed the door on Niagara in the home half of the seventh with three quick outs to secure her fourth complete-game shutout of the season with six strikeouts.
Game 2: SHU 13, Niagara 4
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (W, 4.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 3-8 record)
Emily Campion (SHU) – (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Abbey Steen (Niagara) – (L, 1.2 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 0-4 record)
Jenna Martin (Niagara) – (4.1 innings pitched, 6 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Top Performers:
Nicole Henke – 3-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 home run
Sam Kowalski – 3-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 double
Olivia Bibbo – 2-3, 3 runs, 1 RBI, 1 double, 1 walk
How It Happened:
The Pioneers wasted no time to take the lead in game two, going up 6-0 in the top of the second. SHU put its first five batters on in the second with three singles, a double and a walk. Ella Stoops tallied the first RBI with a single, while Olivia Bibbo got the next two on a double to left center.
Two quick outs by the Purple Eagles almost got them out of the inning without anymore damage, but Kowalski made it 4-0 SHU with a two-RBI double. An error by the opposing short stop allowed two more runs as the Pioneers went into the bottom of the inning leading 6-0.
Niagara answered in the bottom of the second with three runs to cut the margin in half.
Sacred Heart added two more runs in the top of the third, as both were scored on Purple Eagle errors.
A Niagara run cut the Pioneers' lead to 8-4 in the bottom of the fourth, but SHU was quick to retaliate in the fifth. Following two outs and two singles, Nicole Henke slammed a three-run homer to make it a 11-4 game.
The Pios put the finishing touches on the win with two more runs in the top of the sixth to make it 13-4. Leckrone's two-run double gave the Pios a nine-run cushion, which they cashed in on by claiming the win in six innings.
Emily Heath and Emily Campion took the pitching responsibilities in game two. Heath took the first 4.0 frames on her way to her third win of the season. Campion pitched the final 2.0 frames to close out the victory.
Notes:
The Pioneers head to UMass Lowell for a nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday, March 31, at 2 p.m.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (13-17, 8-3 MAAC)
Niagara (0-17, 0-10 MAAC)
Game 1: SHU 3, Niagara 0
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, 9-7 record)
Ryan Hatty (Niagara) – (L, 6.1 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 0-5 record)
Abbey Steen (Niagara) – (0.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout)
Top Performers:
Sam Kowalski – 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 home run
Elle Leckrone – 1-2, 1 run, 2 walks
How It Happened:
Today's doubleheader started off slow as the first run of the day was not scored until the fifth inning. Kowalski was cruising to start, striking out five of her first six batters before bringing in the opening run. In the top of the fifth, SHU loaded the bases with two singles and a Purple Eagles' error before Kowalski plated Elle Leckrone with a single to left field.
Sacred Heart added an insurance run in the sixth after again loading the bases. Kathryn Hotle smacked a sacrifice fly to center field to play Kaelyn Freed to make it 2-0 SHU.
Kowalski capped an all-around performance with a solo home run to make it 3-0. The senior slammed the door on Niagara in the home half of the seventh with three quick outs to secure her fourth complete-game shutout of the season with six strikeouts.
Game 2: SHU 13, Niagara 4
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (W, 4.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 3-8 record)
Emily Campion (SHU) – (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Abbey Steen (Niagara) – (L, 1.2 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 0-4 record)
Jenna Martin (Niagara) – (4.1 innings pitched, 6 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Top Performers:
Nicole Henke – 3-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 home run
Sam Kowalski – 3-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 double
Olivia Bibbo – 2-3, 3 runs, 1 RBI, 1 double, 1 walk
How It Happened:
The Pioneers wasted no time to take the lead in game two, going up 6-0 in the top of the second. SHU put its first five batters on in the second with three singles, a double and a walk. Ella Stoops tallied the first RBI with a single, while Olivia Bibbo got the next two on a double to left center.
Two quick outs by the Purple Eagles almost got them out of the inning without anymore damage, but Kowalski made it 4-0 SHU with a two-RBI double. An error by the opposing short stop allowed two more runs as the Pioneers went into the bottom of the inning leading 6-0.
Niagara answered in the bottom of the second with three runs to cut the margin in half.
Sacred Heart added two more runs in the top of the third, as both were scored on Purple Eagle errors.
A Niagara run cut the Pioneers' lead to 8-4 in the bottom of the fourth, but SHU was quick to retaliate in the fifth. Following two outs and two singles, Nicole Henke slammed a three-run homer to make it a 11-4 game.
The Pios put the finishing touches on the win with two more runs in the top of the sixth to make it 13-4. Leckrone's two-run double gave the Pios a nine-run cushion, which they cashed in on by claiming the win in six innings.
Emily Heath and Emily Campion took the pitching responsibilities in game two. Heath took the first 4.0 frames on her way to her third win of the season. Campion pitched the final 2.0 frames to close out the victory.
Notes:
- With the win, Pam London collected her 400th as the head coach of the Pioneers.
- Sacred Heart has won four straight games.
- SHU improved to 8-3 in MAAC player this season, which is tied for second in the league.
- The Pioneers have won seven straight games against Niagara.
- Kowalski tallied her ninth win of the year and her eighth complete-game victory.
- Kowalski is one shutout shy of her career high with four in 2026.
- Kowalski has his five home runs this season.
- With six strikeouts today, Kowalski climbed to third on the SHU all-time strikeout leaderboard, passing Nicole Sidor with 563 K's.
- She is fourt overall and third in the Division I era.
- Henke has three homers this year.
- Bibbo and Brown both scored a career-high three runs in game two.
The Pioneers head to UMass Lowell for a nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday, March 31, at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kowalski, Sam (9-7)
L: Ryan Hatty (0-5)
Batting:
2B: Davis, Charlene 1
HR: Kowalski, Sam 1
RBI: Kowalski, Sam 2 ; Hotle, Kathryn 1
SF: Hotle, Kathryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Leckrone, Elle 1 ; Kowalski, Sam 1 ; Freed, Kaelyn 1
SB: Freed, Kaelyn 1
CS: Palmer, Kira 1
Batting:
2B: Sophia Marrero 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballP/INF
/ SoftballP/UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballSaige Harper Paris 2024
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