DeLAND, Fla.– The Sacred Heart University softball team opened up play at the Stetson University Classic on Friday by sweeping two games, as SHU scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to open the day with a 3-1 win over Northern Kentucky University and then wrapped up the day with a 7-5, eight-inning triumph against the host Stetson University Hatters.  The Pioneers, who are now 7-6 on the season, will continue action at Stetson on Saturday when they take on local rival Fairfield University under the Florida sun at 12 noon and play another tilt versus the host Hatters at 3:00 p.m. 

Team Records 

Sacred Heart University Pioneers (6-6 overall, 0-0 NEC) 

Northern Kentucky University Norse (7-7 overall, 0-0 Horizon)

The Scoring

· Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning after an RBI single by NKU's Kailey Rossiter in the top of the firth, Sacred Heart would score all three of its runs in Friday's opener on one-out RBI singles by Amy Petrovich and Alyssa Gonzalez and a double steal by Petrovich, who took home, and pinch runner Jennie Boisvert, who swiped second.                      

In The Circle

· Sophomore Colleen Walsh earned the win for the Pioneers firing a complete game in which she allowed seven hits, one earned run, with four strikeouts and only one base on balls.  The victory ups Walsh's season record to 2-1.

· Starter Caitlin Karo took the loss for the Norse working 5.1 innings allowing three hits, three runs (all earned) with four K's and two walks.

By The Numbers

· Northern Kentucky outhit the Pioneers, 7-4, in the game.

· Both teams played errorless ball in the brisk 1:35 contest.
· Along with the RBI singles by Amy Petrovich and Alyssa Gonzalez, Sacred Heart also received base hits from by Kylee Harvey and Brianna Santos in the win over the Norse.

· The victory in Friday's opener runs the Pioneers' winning streak to a season-best four games.

Team Records 

Sacred Heart University Pioneers (7-6 overall, 0-0 NEC) 

Stetson University Hatters (9-13 overall, 0-0 A. Sun)

The Scoring

· The Pioneers got off to a fast start scoring two runs in the top of the first after Myah Eldred drew a lead-off walk and promptly stole second and the scored on an RBI single by Amy Petrovich.  Petrovich would then score later in the inning on an error by the Hatters' third baseman.

· Stetson answered with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI-single by Nyah Morgan, but Sacred Heart got that run right back in the top of the second when Maighread Scafariello reached the dish after a single by Cierra Casale and a misplay in the Hatter's outfield.

· The back-and forth scoring continue in the bottom of the second when the hosts cut the SHU advantage to 3-2 on an RBI groundout by Alyssa Gilman, and the Hatters' grabbed a 4-3 lead on a two-run home run in the bottom of the third off the bat of Devon Lewis. 

· Alyssa Gonzalez knotted the game for Sacred Heart at 4-4 with a lead-off home run to left field on a full count pitch in the top of the sixth inning raise her team leading total to five long balls.

· In the top of the eighth, SHU's designated player Maighread Scafariello struck the decisive blow in the game with a one-out, three-run homer down the left field line, her first home run of the season.

· Stetson scored in the bottom of the eight on an RBI-double by Devon Lewis and managed load the bases with just one out, but Shyanne Fennell fanned the final two Hatters' hitter to end the threat and the game.

In The Circle

· Junior Shyanne Fennell worked an eight-inning complete game against Stetson to raise her season record to 3-4.  Fennell gutted out the victory using 161 pitches over those eight innings in which gave up eight hits, five runs (three earned) with seven strikeout and three walks

· Jamie Tino worked the first four innings of the game for the Hatters, and returned to the rubber to start the eighth inning to absorb the loss.  Tino allowed four hits, six runs (three earned), while striking out two and walking three during her time in the circle.

By The Numbers

· The Pioneer's game versus Stetson marked the third time so far in 2020 that the team has played an extra-innings game.
· The victory in Friday's opener moves the Pioneers' winning streak to a season-best five games.
· Sacred Heart outhit Stetson, 9-8, on the day.
· Myah Eldred and Amy Petrovich led the SHU offense as the each had two hits in Friday's second game, and Maighread Scafariello scored two runs for the winners.