Softball Plays 19 Innings in Doubleheader at Marist, Suffers Two One-Run Losses

Tuesday, April 7

Poughkeepsie, NY

1:00 PM

Sacred Heart

15-20, 10-5

Marist

18-18, 12-2

Sacred Heart

Marist

Photo by: Bob Solorio

Softball Plays 19 Innings in Doubleheader at Marist, Suffers Two One-Run Losses

4/7/2026 8:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Kowalski set the new DI program record in strikeouts in the opener

By: Josh Smith

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart University softball team gave defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champ Marist all it could handle in a pair of one-run contests in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on Tuesday afternoon. The Pios and Red Foxes played 19 innings of softball, with Marist claiming a 4-3 win in nine innings in the opener and a 7-6 victory in 10 innings in the nightcap.

In the first game, Sam Kowalski set the program record in strikeout in the Division I era with 599 in her illustrious career. She also finished the doubleheader with her first career multi-home run game, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Team Records:
Sacred Heart (15-21, 10-6 MAAC)
Marist (19-18, 13-2 MAAC)

Game 1: Marist 4, SHU 3 (9 Inn.)
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (L, 8.1 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 8 strikeouts, 11-9 record)
Ava Metzger (Marist) – (6.2 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 4 strikeouts)
Anna Sidlowski (Marist) – (W, 2.1 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 2-5 record)

Top Performers:
Cierra Bender – 2-5, 1 RBI
Savannah Moore – 1-1, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 double

How It Happened:
The Red Foxes took control in the opening inning, hanging three on the scoreboard after a two-out three-run homer.

SHU started to rally in the sixth inning, making it 3-1. The Pioneers had the bases loaded in the frame but scored just one run on a sacrifice fly from Kowalski, plating Kira Palmer.

The Pioneers tied the score in the top of the seventh with some more timely hitting. Two quick outs put the Pioneers on the ropes, but an Ella Stoops single and a Savannah Moore pinch-hit double drew the margin to one, 3-2. A fielder's choice which resulted in no outs allowed Moore to score and tie the game at 3-3.

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Marist broke through for a run in the bottom of the ninth to take a 4-3 win.

Kowalski was basically unhittable after the first, blanking the high-scoring Red Foxes for seven innings. She allowed four earned over 8.1 innings, with eight strikeouts, the second most for Marist in Conference play this season.

Game 2: Marist 7, SHU 6 (10 Inn.)
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (L, 9.1 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 3-9 record)
Stella Blanchard (Marist) – (2.1 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout)
Kaylie Dechicchis (Marist) – (3.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout)
Anna Sidlowski (Marist) – (W, 4.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, 3-5 record)

Top Performers:
Sam Kowalski – 3-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 2 home runs, 1 walk
Elle Leckrone – 3-5, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run, 1 double

How It Happened:
Elle Leckrone wasted no time putting the Pioneers on top in game one, hitting a solo homer four pitches into the game.

SHU's 1-0 advantage did not make it to the second, as the Red Foxes scored two in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.

The Pioneers were ready with an answer, as Leckrone tallied another RBI on a double to left center that plated Nicole Henke after her leadoff walk. Leckrone's second RBI in as many innings tied the score at 2-2.

Again, Marist retook the lead, scoring two more in the bottom of the second to go ahead 4-2.

However, SHU's offense was not done scoring in the third, as the Pios hung a run on the scoreboard for the fifth straight half inning in the game. Sacred Heart tied the score at 4-4 behind solo home runs from Kowalski and Moore, with both players ripping line drives over the center field fence.

The next two half innings finally went scoreless, as the Red Foxes retook the advantage, 5-4, with a run in the bottom of the fourth.

Continuing to put the team on her back, Kowalski led off the fifth with her second home run of the game to knot the score at 5-5. Nicole Henke put the Pios in the lead, 6-5, with an RBI single down the left field line.

Marist was ready with another quick answer in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score at 6-6, where it would sit for a while.

Emily Heath settled in over the next few frames, keeping the high-scoring Red Foxes off the scoreboard for the following four innings.

Unfortunately for the Pios, their offense also stalled as we went to the bottom of the 10th inning still tied at 6-6. In the 10th, Marist capitalized off a leadoff walk and an error to break the deadlock.

Heath finished the game with five earned runs over 9.1 innings with one strikeout.

Notes:

Game one marked SHU's first loss in a MAAC series opener this season.
Today marked the Pios' first MAAC series of the season, as they are now 5-1.
SHU has played extra innings in three straight games.
With eight strikeouts, Kowalski is up to 599, claiming the program's DI strikeout record with 599.
Kowalski is up to eight home runs this season, eight times her previous career high.
Kowalski tallied her first multi-home run game in the nightcap, being the first Pios to hit two homers in a game since Moore did so last season against Maine (3/7).
Kowalski is tied for the MAAC lead in home runs.
Kowalski is now top-20 in the country in strikeouts with 130 this season.
Leckrone tallied her 10th multi-hit game of the season.
Moore hit her first home run of the season in the nightcap.

Up Next:
The Pioneers welcome crosstown rival Fairfield for a weekend series this weekend, beginning on Saturday, April 11, with a 1 p.m. showdown. SHU will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday.