Thursday, May 7
Poughkeepsie, NY
10:00 AM
Sacred Heart
23-29
7
vs
5
Quinnipiac
21-20
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Sacred Heart | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | X | 7 | 11 | 1 |
Softball Begins MAAC Championship with Comeback Win over QU
5/7/2026 2:07:00 PM | Softball
Leckrone went 4-4 with two doubles and a home run
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart University softball team opened the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a thrilling 7-5 comeback win over No. 5 Quinnipiac on Thursday afternoon in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Team Records:
No. 4 Sacred Heart (23-29)
No. 5 Quinnipiac (21-20)
Game 1: SHU 7, QU 5
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (W, 6.0 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 7-12 record)
Emily Campion (SHU) – (S, 1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 save)
Shannon Kendall (QU) – (L, 6.0 innings pitched, 7 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 14-14 record)
Top Performers:
Elle Leckrone – 4-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 home run, 2 doubles
Ella Stoops – 2-4, 1 RBI
Cierra Bender – 1-4, 2 RBIs, 1 double
How It Happened:
After a scoreless opening inning, the Bobcats tallied the game's first run in the top of the second inning. QU tallied back-to-back RBI hits with two outs to go ahead 2-0.
The Pios answered in the home half of the third inning, with Elle Leckrone tallying one of her four hits in the game. The sophomore blasted a two-run homer to left field with Jess Brown on second base to tie the score at 2-2.
A scoreless fourth inning followed before the Pioneers took a 3-2 advantage in the bottom of the fifth. Leckrone began the frame with her second leadoff double of the game before being pinch run for by Natalie Aiello. Aiello later scored on an RBI single from Ella Stoops.
Just like in Hamden, QU was ready with a rally, plating three in the top of the sixth inning to build a 5-3 lead.
Also like in the series finale at QU, the Pioneers answered the Bobcats with a superior comeback. The Pios scored four in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-5 lead. Alexa Barbera began the inning with a triple to right field, scoring on the next at-bat after a Nicole Henke single. With two on and two outs, Leckrone continued her scorching day with an RBI single to right that tied the game at 5-5.
The game-winning play came off the bat of Cierra Bender, who plated both Leckrone and Savannah Moore with a ripped double to left field.
With a two-run lead, SHU brought in Emily Campion to close out the game. QU did not go down without a fight, putting two on with one out. Stoops ended the bout with a thrilling double play, fielding the ball and tagging third before throwing a strike to first base.
Emily Heath tallied the win with 6.0 innings pitched, allowing five earned while striking out one. Campion completed the save, the first of her career, with a clean seventh inning.
Noteworthy:
Up Next:
SHU will next play No. 1 Marist at 5:30 p.m. today.
Team Records:
No. 4 Sacred Heart (23-29)
No. 5 Quinnipiac (21-20)
Game 1: SHU 7, QU 5
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (W, 6.0 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 7-12 record)
Emily Campion (SHU) – (S, 1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 save)
Shannon Kendall (QU) – (L, 6.0 innings pitched, 7 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 14-14 record)
Top Performers:
Elle Leckrone – 4-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 home run, 2 doubles
Ella Stoops – 2-4, 1 RBI
Cierra Bender – 1-4, 2 RBIs, 1 double
How It Happened:
After a scoreless opening inning, the Bobcats tallied the game's first run in the top of the second inning. QU tallied back-to-back RBI hits with two outs to go ahead 2-0.
The Pios answered in the home half of the third inning, with Elle Leckrone tallying one of her four hits in the game. The sophomore blasted a two-run homer to left field with Jess Brown on second base to tie the score at 2-2.
A scoreless fourth inning followed before the Pioneers took a 3-2 advantage in the bottom of the fifth. Leckrone began the frame with her second leadoff double of the game before being pinch run for by Natalie Aiello. Aiello later scored on an RBI single from Ella Stoops.
Just like in Hamden, QU was ready with a rally, plating three in the top of the sixth inning to build a 5-3 lead.
Also like in the series finale at QU, the Pioneers answered the Bobcats with a superior comeback. The Pios scored four in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-5 lead. Alexa Barbera began the inning with a triple to right field, scoring on the next at-bat after a Nicole Henke single. With two on and two outs, Leckrone continued her scorching day with an RBI single to right that tied the game at 5-5.
The game-winning play came off the bat of Cierra Bender, who plated both Leckrone and Savannah Moore with a ripped double to left field.
With a two-run lead, SHU brought in Emily Campion to close out the game. QU did not go down without a fight, putting two on with one out. Stoops ended the bout with a thrilling double play, fielding the ball and tagging third before throwing a strike to first base.
Emily Heath tallied the win with 6.0 innings pitched, allowing five earned while striking out one. Campion completed the save, the first of her career, with a clean seventh inning.
Noteworthy:
- The Pios win is their first game in the MAAC Championship after joining the league last season.
- SHU has won three straight contests over Quinnipiac.
- Campion tallied her first collegiate save.
- Heath won her seventh game of the season.
Up Next:
SHU will next play No. 1 Marist at 5:30 p.m. today.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Heath, Emily (7-12)
L: Shannon Kendall (14-14)
S: Campion, Emily (1)
Batting:
2B: Sofia Vega 1 ; Riley Potter 1
HR: Riley Potter 1
RBI: Riley Potter 4 ; Aryn Bombery 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mac Davis 1 ; Natalia Apatiga 2 ; Riley Potter 2
Batting:
2B: Leckrone, Elle 2 ; Bender, Cierra 1
3B: Barbera, Alexa 1
HR: Leckrone, Elle 1
RBI: Leckrone, Elle 3 ; Bender, Cierra 2 ; Stoops, Ella 1 ; Henke, Nicole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Leckrone, Elle 2 ; Aiello, Natalie 1 ; Barbera, Alexa 1 ; Freed, Kaelyn 1 ; Brown, Jess 1 ; Moore, Savannah 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
4
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballP/UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballSaige Harper Paris 2024
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