Softball Falls on Day Two of MAAC Championship

Friday, May 8

Poughkeepsie, NY

1:30 PM

Sacred Heart

23-31

Quinnipiac

24-20

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Quinnipiac	1	0	0	0	3	2	0	6	13	0
Sacred Heart	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	4	8	0

Softball Falls on Day Two of MAAC Championship

5/8/2026 7:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SHU tallied three homers in a 6-4 loss to Quinnipiac

By: Josh Smith

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart University softball team brought an end to the 2026 season with a hard-fought 6-4 defeat to No. 5 Quinnipiac at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship on Friday afternoon.

Team Records:
No. 4 Sacred Heart (23-31)
No. 5 Quinnipiac (24-20)

Game 3: QU 6, SHU 4
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (4.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 2 strikeouts)
Emily Campion (SHU) – (L, 3.0 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 5-8 record)
Jasmine Kline (QU) – (2.1 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout)
Laney Adie (QU) – (1.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Shannon Kendall (QU) – (W, 3.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 17-14 record)

Top Performers:
Elle Leckrone – 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 home run
Charlene Davis – 2-4, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run
Cierra Bender – 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 home run

How It Happened:
Quinnipiac pulled ahead at the top of the first inning, plating one after starting the game with a walk and two hits. Emily Heath worked out of the early jam, getting the next three outs to keep the score at 1-0.

SHU's bats came alive in the bottom of the second, as Charlene Davis started a home run party for the Pios. After Alexa Barbera began the inning with a double, Davis sent a rocket into the left field foul pole to shoot SHU into the lead, 2-1.

The start of the third inning continued the long ball showcase, as Elle Leckrone and Cierra Bender went back-to-back with home runs to begin the frame. Leckrone sent her homer to straight center field, while Bender blasted a ball to left.

SHU maintained its 4-1 advantage until the top of the fifth inning, when Quinnipiac plated three to tie the score at 4-4.

With the newfound momentum, a pair of runs at the top of the sixth gave the Bobcats a 6-4 lead late.

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, they could not find a late rally like they had in their last two meetings against QU. SHU had the game-winning run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but a groundout sealed the win for the Bobcats' second win of the day.

Heath got the start today and went 4.0 innings with just the first inning run. Emily Campion threw the final 3.0 innings and was credited with five runs.

Noteworthy:

Five of SHU's last six games of the season were against Quinnipiac.
The Pios' three homers are their second-highest total of the season.
Leckrone hit a home run in two of three games at the tournament and finished batting .583 (7-for-12).
Leckrone tallied two homers, two doubles, three runs and five RBIs at the event.
Leckrone concludes her sophomore season as the team leader in batting average (.340), runs (35) and doubles (18).
Davis finished her senior season with two home runs, giving her five in her career.
Bender concludes the year with three homers.
Bender ends the season as the team leader with 28 RBIs.