Photo by: Emma Pinault
Softball Heads to CCSU for Nonconference Doubleheader
4/24/2026 11:43:00 AM | Softball
The twin bill is slated to start at noon on Saturday
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team will take a break from league play on Saturday, April 25, for a nonconference doubleheader at Central Connecticut State, beginning at noon in New Britain, Conn.
GAME INFORMATION
Game 1: Sacred Heart at CCSU – Saturday, April 25, 12:00 p.m.
Game 2: Sacred Heart at CCSU – Saturday, April 25, 2:00 p.m.
CHECKING IN
The Pioneers are getting hot at the right time, having won four of their last five games as they make a push for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament appearance. SHU won two of three games at Mount St. Mary's over the weekend and swept Iona in a home doubleheader on Tuesday.
With the late-season surge, SHU has moved into fifth in the MAAC standings, sitting at 14-10 (.583). The Pios have the weekend off from conference play, so the standings will look quite different heading into the final league games. However, the Pios sit in a good spot right now as they have played the most league games so far.
SEEING DOUBLE, TWO EMILYS
In the pitching circle, both Emily Campion and Emily Heath have been outstanding over SHU's recent surge. Campion is 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA over 22.0 innings. The first year from Excelsior, Minn., has been neatly unhittable, allowing .45 hits per inning over her three appearances, which includes taking no-hitters into the fifth inning twice. Heath is 2-0 over the last three games, also owning a save. She holds a 2.39 ERA over 14.2 innings with five strikeouts. The duo has been critical to SHU winning all four games by two runs or less, as the pair is overcoming the added pressure.
SCOUTING CCSU
The Blue Devils head into the weekend leading the Northeast Conference (NEC) with an 18-3 record. CCSU has won 10 of its last 12 games, including an eight-game win streak in NEC play. A 10-9 loss at Fairfield halted the win streak, as the Blue Devils are 5-12 in nonleague action.
SHU will have to contend with a stellar CCSU offense, as it ranks 71st nationally in batting average (.313) and 83rd in scoring (5.79 rpg). The Blue Devils even lead the nation in doubles per game at 2.11. CCSU has not been as strong in the pitching circle, ranking 185th with a combined ERA of 4.83.
Senior infielder Grace Lawton leads the offense with a .431 batting average, 42 RBIs and 12 home runs. Fellow senior Ava Cino has also been outstanding, with a .407 batting average, 27 RBIs and 14 doubles. She ranks 14th nationally with 0.39 doubles per game. In the circle, junior Liz Hamilton has thrown 11.1 innings and 15 complete games, which ranks 13th in the country. She owns a 14-4 record with a 3.67 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
The Pioneers will meet their longtime conference rivals for the 50th time on Saturday, as the Blue Devils hold a 27-22 lead in the all-time series. SHU has won the last two meetings against CCSU, with the most recent on March 8, 2025, at Yale.
UP NEXT
The Pioneers head to Quinnipiac on May 1-2 for the final MAAC series of the regular season. The opener is slated to start at noon on Friday.
GAME INFORMATION
Game 1: Sacred Heart at CCSU – Saturday, April 25, 12:00 p.m.
Game 2: Sacred Heart at CCSU – Saturday, April 25, 2:00 p.m.
CHECKING IN
The Pioneers are getting hot at the right time, having won four of their last five games as they make a push for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament appearance. SHU won two of three games at Mount St. Mary's over the weekend and swept Iona in a home doubleheader on Tuesday.
With the late-season surge, SHU has moved into fifth in the MAAC standings, sitting at 14-10 (.583). The Pios have the weekend off from conference play, so the standings will look quite different heading into the final league games. However, the Pios sit in a good spot right now as they have played the most league games so far.
SEEING DOUBLE, TWO EMILYS
In the pitching circle, both Emily Campion and Emily Heath have been outstanding over SHU's recent surge. Campion is 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA over 22.0 innings. The first year from Excelsior, Minn., has been neatly unhittable, allowing .45 hits per inning over her three appearances, which includes taking no-hitters into the fifth inning twice. Heath is 2-0 over the last three games, also owning a save. She holds a 2.39 ERA over 14.2 innings with five strikeouts. The duo has been critical to SHU winning all four games by two runs or less, as the pair is overcoming the added pressure.
SCOUTING CCSU
The Blue Devils head into the weekend leading the Northeast Conference (NEC) with an 18-3 record. CCSU has won 10 of its last 12 games, including an eight-game win streak in NEC play. A 10-9 loss at Fairfield halted the win streak, as the Blue Devils are 5-12 in nonleague action.
SHU will have to contend with a stellar CCSU offense, as it ranks 71st nationally in batting average (.313) and 83rd in scoring (5.79 rpg). The Blue Devils even lead the nation in doubles per game at 2.11. CCSU has not been as strong in the pitching circle, ranking 185th with a combined ERA of 4.83.
Senior infielder Grace Lawton leads the offense with a .431 batting average, 42 RBIs and 12 home runs. Fellow senior Ava Cino has also been outstanding, with a .407 batting average, 27 RBIs and 14 doubles. She ranks 14th nationally with 0.39 doubles per game. In the circle, junior Liz Hamilton has thrown 11.1 innings and 15 complete games, which ranks 13th in the country. She owns a 14-4 record with a 3.67 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
The Pioneers will meet their longtime conference rivals for the 50th time on Saturday, as the Blue Devils hold a 27-22 lead in the all-time series. SHU has won the last two meetings against CCSU, with the most recent on March 8, 2025, at Yale.
UP NEXT
The Pioneers head to Quinnipiac on May 1-2 for the final MAAC series of the regular season. The opener is slated to start at noon on Friday.
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSaige Harper Paris 2024
Tuesday, April 16
Behind the Boards (MIH): Season 2, Episode 13
Friday, March 08
Behind the Boards (WIH): Season 2, Episode 14
Friday, February 23
Behind the Boards (MIH): Season 2, Episode 12
Friday, February 16
