Friday, April 3
Fairfield, CT
1:00 PM
Sacred Heart
14-18, 9-3
6
vs
0
Merrimack
5-21, 3-10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Sacred Heart | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 6 | 8 | 2 |
Photo by: Andres Trevino
Softball Opens Weekend with Sweep of Merrimack
4/3/2026 7:19:00 PM | Softball
Kowalski was the winner in both games
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team swept a home Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader against Merrimack on Friday at Pioneer Park, winning 6-0 and 6-2. Sam Kowalski earned both wins, throwing a gem in the opener, while SHU totaled 18 hits over both contests.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (15-18, 10-3 MAAC)
Merrimack (5-22, 3-11 MAAC)
Game 1: SHU 6, Merrimack 0
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 9 strikeouts, 10-7 record)
Mackenzie Paulin (MC) – (L, 4.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 1-4 record)
Sam Ryan (MC) – (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 2-3, 3 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run
Elle Leckrone – 1-4, 1 run
How It Happened:
Cierra Bender kicked off the first game today in style, sending a rocket over the fence in left center field to make it 1-0 Pioneers. A fielding error by the opposing shortstop allowed Kowalski to score, making it 2-0 SHU.
Sacred Heart added two more runs in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 5-0. The Pios started the frame with a walk and a single before an outstanding bunt by Kira Palmer plated Alexa Barbera from third base. Bender capped the inning with a two-RBI single to left field.
With a five-run cushion, Kowalski cruised through, not allowing a hit until the fourth. She limited Merrimack to seven base runners and struck out nine for her fifth shutout this season.
SHU's final run of the game came on another Merrimack error, as the Pioneers opened the weekend with a 6-0 victory.
Game 2: SHU 6, Merrimack 2
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (5.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 4 strikeouts)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 1.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 11-7 record)
Anna Gedacht (MC) – (L, 5.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, 3-12 record)
Brandi Neil (MC) – (0.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Top Performers:
Sam Kowalski – 2-4, 1 RBI
Charlene Davis – 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 double
How It Happened:
The Warriors took control in the first inning of game two, going up 2-0 with a two-run homer.
SHU answered in the bottom of the third, cutting the margin to 2-1. Elle Leckrone started the inning with a single before Charlene Davis drove her home with a double to right center.
The Pios' starter in game two was great after the first, not allowing another run for the rest of her appearance. Her stellar pitching put SHU down by one heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Leckrone kicked off the fifth by reaching on an error. After Natalie Aiello came in to pinch run, she was driven to second on a sac bunt before stealing third. Kowalski answered the bell by tying the score, 2-2, with an RBI single.
SHU's bats really came alive in the bottom of the sixth as the Pioneers built a commanding 6-2 advantage by the end of the inning. A single and two straight errors led to the first run of the inning before Katherine Burras plated two with an RBI single to right field. Bender drove in the last run with a single to center field.
Kowalski relieved Heath in the top of the sixth with a runner on second and one out, earning the win after entering with the game tied 2-2. She struck out two more for 11 on the day.
Notes:
Up Next:
SHU and Merrimack conclude the weekend series tomorrow at noon at Pioneer Park.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (15-18, 10-3 MAAC)
Merrimack (5-22, 3-11 MAAC)
Game 1: SHU 6, Merrimack 0
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 9 strikeouts, 10-7 record)
Mackenzie Paulin (MC) – (L, 4.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 1-4 record)
Sam Ryan (MC) – (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 2-3, 3 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run
Elle Leckrone – 1-4, 1 run
How It Happened:
Cierra Bender kicked off the first game today in style, sending a rocket over the fence in left center field to make it 1-0 Pioneers. A fielding error by the opposing shortstop allowed Kowalski to score, making it 2-0 SHU.
Sacred Heart added two more runs in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 5-0. The Pios started the frame with a walk and a single before an outstanding bunt by Kira Palmer plated Alexa Barbera from third base. Bender capped the inning with a two-RBI single to left field.
With a five-run cushion, Kowalski cruised through, not allowing a hit until the fourth. She limited Merrimack to seven base runners and struck out nine for her fifth shutout this season.
SHU's final run of the game came on another Merrimack error, as the Pioneers opened the weekend with a 6-0 victory.
Game 2: SHU 6, Merrimack 2
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (5.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 4 strikeouts)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 1.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 11-7 record)
Anna Gedacht (MC) – (L, 5.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, 3-12 record)
Brandi Neil (MC) – (0.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Top Performers:
Sam Kowalski – 2-4, 1 RBI
Charlene Davis – 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 double
How It Happened:
The Warriors took control in the first inning of game two, going up 2-0 with a two-run homer.
SHU answered in the bottom of the third, cutting the margin to 2-1. Elle Leckrone started the inning with a single before Charlene Davis drove her home with a double to right center.
The Pios' starter in game two was great after the first, not allowing another run for the rest of her appearance. Her stellar pitching put SHU down by one heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Leckrone kicked off the fifth by reaching on an error. After Natalie Aiello came in to pinch run, she was driven to second on a sac bunt before stealing third. Kowalski answered the bell by tying the score, 2-2, with an RBI single.
SHU's bats really came alive in the bottom of the sixth as the Pioneers built a commanding 6-2 advantage by the end of the inning. A single and two straight errors led to the first run of the inning before Katherine Burras plated two with an RBI single to right field. Bender drove in the last run with a single to center field.
Kowalski relieved Heath in the top of the sixth with a runner on second and one out, earning the win after entering with the game tied 2-2. She struck out two more for 11 on the day.
Notes:
- The Pios have won all five MAAC series they have played this season.
- SHU has swept its last four doubleheaders.
- Kowalski is up to 11 wins this season.
- Kowalski has five shutouts this year.
- Kowalski now has 47 wins in her collegiate career.
- Kowalski (583 career strikeouts) is now nine strikeouts away from tying Jamie Carlson's mark of 592 for third place on Sacred Heart's all-time program leaderboard.
- Davis saw an eight-game hit streak end in the opener.
- Bender hit her first home run of the season.
- Bender hit three RBIs for a third time this year.
Up Next:
SHU and Merrimack conclude the weekend series tomorrow at noon at Pioneer Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kowalski, Sam (10-7)
L: Paulin MacKenzie (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Kowalski, Sam 1
HR: Bender, Cierra 1
RBI: Bender, Cierra 3 ; Palmer, Kira 1
SH: Bender, Cierra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Leckrone, Elle 1 ; Bender, Cierra 1 ; Kowalski, Sam 1 ; Barbera, Alexa 1 ; Stoops, Ella 1 ; Palmer, Kira 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballP/INF
/ SoftballP/UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballSaige Harper Paris 2024
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