Friday, April 3
Fairfield, CT
1:00 PM
Sacred Heart
vs
Merrimack
Photo by: Daniel Boye
Softball Hosts Merrimack for Easter Weekend Series
4/2/2026 12:07:00 PM | Softball
The Pios and Warriors will begin with a Friday doubleheader at 1 p.m.
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team welcomes Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Merrimack for a three-game series this weekend at Pioneer Park. The series will start on Friday, April 3, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader before concluding the following day at noon.
GAME INFORMATION
Game 1: Sacred Heart vs. Merrimack – Friday, April 3, 1:00 p.m.
Game 2: Sacred Heart vs. Merrimack – Friday, April 3, 3:00 p.m.
Game 3: Sacred Heart vs. Merrimack – Saturday, April 4, 12:00 p.m.
POWER PUFF GIRLS
Over the first 31 games of the season, the duo of Sam Kowalski and Nicole Henke has proven to be one of the league's most dangerous 1-2 punches, as the pair both rank in the top 10 of the conference in home runs. Kowalski is third in the league with six homers, while Henke is tied for eighth with four. Kowalski had never hit more than one home run in a season until this year, as she also ranks second in the MAAC with a .691 slugging percentage. Henke is one home run shy of her career high, with 15 in her career.
WEEKLY OCCURRENCE
For the third straight week, Kowalski collected a MAAC weekly award as she won her first Player of the Week nod on Tuesday after leading the Pios to a 4-0 week. Kowalski is already a two-time Pitcher of the Week. The San Clemente, Calif., native led the Pioneers at the plate with a .615 batting average (8-for-13), five RBIs and two doubles. She also tallied three runs and a home run. Kowalski heads into the Merrimack series leading the team in both batting average (.402) and ERA (2.27) this season, as she is one of the best two-way players in the conference.
400TH WIN
On Sunday against Niagara, Head Coach Pam London tallied her 400th win in her illustrious career at Sacred Heart. London's tenure has spanned 20 seasons, as she has seen some of the strongest campaigns over the last couple of years. The Pios have won 20+ games and made a conference tournament appearance in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2018-19.
SCOUTING MERRIMACK
Merrimack is 5-20 overall this season and 3-9 in the MAAC, which places it 10th in the conference. The Warriors are coming off a 2-1 series loss to Iona last weekend, with Sunday's win stopping a six-game losing streak for the team. Merrimack's other conference results are sweeps at the hands of Fairfield (3 games) and Quinnipiac (2 games), and a sweep of its own over Canisius.
The Warriors' struggles at the plate have resulted in their slow start to the season. The team ranks dead last in the MAAC in batting average (.222) and slugging percentage (.313), and is third-to-last in runs (76) and RBIs (71). On defense, Merrimack is fourth from the bottom in the conference with a 5.93 ERA, and is sixth overall in opposing batting average (.313).
Junior Anna Gedacht paces the pitching staff with 77.0 innings pitched this season, as she is 3-11 with a 5.18 ERA and 49 strikeouts. Offensively, junior Madeline Arvai is hitting a team-best .301 with 14 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
SERIES HISTORY
The Pioneers and Warriors will meet for the 26th time in Friday's doubleheader opener. Merrimack heads into the weekend with a slim 14-11 lead in the all-time series. SHU has the momentum in the matchup, winning four straight against the Warriors and five of the last six. The Pios swept last season's series with a pair of 2-0 wins in North Andover, Mass.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Pioneers next head to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for a midweek doubleheader against defending MAAC Champion Marist. Opening pitch of the twin bill is slated for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7.
GAME INFORMATION
Game 1: Sacred Heart vs. Merrimack – Friday, April 3, 1:00 p.m.
Game 2: Sacred Heart vs. Merrimack – Friday, April 3, 3:00 p.m.
Game 3: Sacred Heart vs. Merrimack – Saturday, April 4, 12:00 p.m.
POWER PUFF GIRLS
Over the first 31 games of the season, the duo of Sam Kowalski and Nicole Henke has proven to be one of the league's most dangerous 1-2 punches, as the pair both rank in the top 10 of the conference in home runs. Kowalski is third in the league with six homers, while Henke is tied for eighth with four. Kowalski had never hit more than one home run in a season until this year, as she also ranks second in the MAAC with a .691 slugging percentage. Henke is one home run shy of her career high, with 15 in her career.
WEEKLY OCCURRENCE
For the third straight week, Kowalski collected a MAAC weekly award as she won her first Player of the Week nod on Tuesday after leading the Pios to a 4-0 week. Kowalski is already a two-time Pitcher of the Week. The San Clemente, Calif., native led the Pioneers at the plate with a .615 batting average (8-for-13), five RBIs and two doubles. She also tallied three runs and a home run. Kowalski heads into the Merrimack series leading the team in both batting average (.402) and ERA (2.27) this season, as she is one of the best two-way players in the conference.
400TH WIN
On Sunday against Niagara, Head Coach Pam London tallied her 400th win in her illustrious career at Sacred Heart. London's tenure has spanned 20 seasons, as she has seen some of the strongest campaigns over the last couple of years. The Pios have won 20+ games and made a conference tournament appearance in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2018-19.
SCOUTING MERRIMACK
Merrimack is 5-20 overall this season and 3-9 in the MAAC, which places it 10th in the conference. The Warriors are coming off a 2-1 series loss to Iona last weekend, with Sunday's win stopping a six-game losing streak for the team. Merrimack's other conference results are sweeps at the hands of Fairfield (3 games) and Quinnipiac (2 games), and a sweep of its own over Canisius.
The Warriors' struggles at the plate have resulted in their slow start to the season. The team ranks dead last in the MAAC in batting average (.222) and slugging percentage (.313), and is third-to-last in runs (76) and RBIs (71). On defense, Merrimack is fourth from the bottom in the conference with a 5.93 ERA, and is sixth overall in opposing batting average (.313).
Junior Anna Gedacht paces the pitching staff with 77.0 innings pitched this season, as she is 3-11 with a 5.18 ERA and 49 strikeouts. Offensively, junior Madeline Arvai is hitting a team-best .301 with 14 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
SERIES HISTORY
The Pioneers and Warriors will meet for the 26th time in Friday's doubleheader opener. Merrimack heads into the weekend with a slim 14-11 lead in the all-time series. SHU has the momentum in the matchup, winning four straight against the Warriors and five of the last six. The Pios swept last season's series with a pair of 2-0 wins in North Andover, Mass.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Pioneers next head to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for a midweek doubleheader against defending MAAC Champion Marist. Opening pitch of the twin bill is slated for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P/INF
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