Softball Caps Thrilling Comeback with Leckrone Homer in Eighth

Sunday, April 19

Emmitsburg, MD

3:00 PM

Sacred Heart

17-27, 12-10

Mount St. Mary's (Md.)

15-25, 10-9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Sacred Heart	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	5	2
Mount St. Mary's	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	1

Photo by: Katelynn Wiesniewski

Softball Caps Thrilling Comeback with Leckrone Homer in Eighth

4/19/2026 6:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SHU was down to its final out in the seventh before Barbera forced extra innings

By: Josh Smith

EMMITSBURG, Md. – After tying the game on its final out in the seventh inning, the Sacred Heart University softball team claimed a 3-1 series-clinching win at Mount St. Mary's on Sunday following a two-run home run from Elle Leckrone in the eighth. The win propelled the Pioneers past the Mount in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) standings.

Team Records:
Sacred Heart (17-27, 12-10 MAAC)
Mount St. Mary's (15-25, 10-9 MAAC)

SHU 3, Mount 1 (8 Inn.)
Pitchers:
Emily Campion (SHU) – (W, 7.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 2-6 record)
Emily Heath (SHU) – (S, 0.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 save)
Emmaleigh Zagrodnicheck (Mount) – (L, 8.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 8 strikeouts, 3-7 record)

Top Performers:
Elle Leckrone – 1-4, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run
Cierra Bender – 1-4, 1 run, 1 double
Alexa Barbera – 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 double

How It Happened:
In the cold and damp conditions in Emmitsburg, Md., the starting pitchers dominated the early frames. Neither team broke onto the scoreboard until the fifth inning. Both teams struggled to find hits, as a Charlene Davis double was the lone hit in the first four frames. Davis' double was less than a foot from clearing the left field wall.

For SHU, starter Emily Campion did not allow her first hit until the fifth inning. The first year was cruising until two outs in the fifth, when a hit-by-pitch and a single led to the Mount taking a 1-0 advantage.

Campion bounced back quickly with a perfect sixth inning, setting up the Pios to overcome a one-run deficit in the top of the seventh.

In the seventh, Cierra Bender started the rally with a leadoff double. Ella Stoops put Bender on third with a sacrifice bunt before a lineout put the Pios at their final out. Alexa Barbera answered the call with a double to left center to tie the score at 1-1.

Campion shut down the Mount in the seventh, giving SHU a chance to take the lead in the eighth. Katherine Burras started extra innings with a single before two outs again put the Pios against the wall. Leckrone matched Barbera with a clutch hit, sending a rocket over the fence in left field to make it 3-1 Sacred Heart.

A one-out single in the eighth marked the end of Campion's outstanding start as Emily Heath entered in relief with a chance to earn the save. The senior quickly got two outs from the Mountaineers to seal the important comeback victory for the Pios.

Noteworthy: