CHARLESTON, S.C.- The Sacred Heart University softball team split its first two games at the Charleston Southern University Tournament defeating Virginia 5-4 and falling to host Charleston Southern 5-3 on Friday.
 
Team Records
 
Sacred Heart University Pioneers (1-1 overall, 0-0 NEC)
University of Virginia Cavaliers (2-4 overall, 0-0 ACC)
Charleston Southern University Buccaneers (2-4 overall, 0-0 Big South)
 
Game 1 Score: SHU 5, UVA 4
 
Pitchers:
 
Sarah Lawton (SHU) (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 5 strikeouts, 1-0 record)
Savanah Henley (UVA) (L, 2.1 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 0-4 record)
Mackenzie Wooten (UVA) (2.0 innings pitched)
Mikayla Houge (UVA) (2.2 innings pitched)
 
Top Performers
 
Amy Petrovich (SHU): 2-3, 1 RBI and 1 double
Alyssa Gonzalez (SHU): 2-2, 2 RBI
 
Of Note:
 

• The Pioneers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning off a double by graduate student Amy Petrovich followed by a sacrifice fly out by senior Alyssa Gonzalez.
• Virginia came back in the second inning with four runs off two RBI singles and a steal home to take a 4-2 lead.
• The third inning belonged to the Pioneers as Gonzalez ripped a single through the left side scoring in Kylee Harvey from second to narrow the Virginia lead to 4-3.
• Emily Carroll would clear the bases shortly after with a double to left center scoring in Victoria LoPinto and Amy Petrovich to secure the 5-4 victory.

 
Game 2 Score: CSU 5, SHU 3
 
Pitchers:
 
Olivia Vadas (SHU) (5.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 strikeout)
Jenna Pfister (SHU) (L, 1.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 0-1 record)
Annah Junge (CSU) (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, 2-2 record)
 
Top Performers:
 
Grace Saad (SHU): 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 home-run
 
Of Note:
 

• The Pioneers would score first as Grace Saad launched her first home-run of the season to left center in the second inning to put SHU ahead 1-0.
• CSU evened the score up in the bottom of the third inning as Gracie Prince hit an RBI double to make the score 1-1.
• SHU took back the lead as Jenna Mowad hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring in Saad from third to give SHU a 2-1 lead.
• The Buccaneers countered in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs off a pair of RBI singles and a fielder's choice groundout to take a 5-2 lead.
• A sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning by Amy Petrovich narrowed the score to 5-3 but the Pioneers were unable to comeback from the deficit.

 
Up Next:
 
The Pioneers continue play at the Charleston Southern University Tournament tomorrow starting with a rematch against Virginia at 12:30 p.m.