GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Sacred Heart University softball team bested Bellarmine University by a convincing 9-4 final score to open the 2023 campaign with a win at the Furman Invitational on Friday evening. The Pioneers then fell to host Furman University, 10-2, in the nightcap to earn a season-opening split. 
 
Team Records
Sacred Heart (1-1)
Bellarmine (0-6)
Furman (2-2)
 
Game 1: SHU 9, BU 4
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU)- (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, 1-0 record)
Carson Goatley (BU)- (L, 4.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 0-2 record)
Claire Lehmkuhler (BU)- (2.0 innings pitched, 5 runs)
 
Top Performers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – 2-3, 3 RBI, 1 2B
Jenna Mowad (SHU) – 3-3
 
Of Note:
The Pioneers were trailing in their half of the first inning, as the Knights hung two on the scoreboard in the top of the frame. However, SHU was not down for long, scoring the next four runs to storm ahead 4-2. The Pios' early surge was sparked by three walks over the first four batters. Emily Carroll plated the first run on an RBI line-out before a Knights' throwing error in the next at-bat brought the second run across. Sam Kowalski plated the following two runners with a bases-clearing double to left. 

After the first inning, both pitchers settled in and kept the scoreboard clean until the fifth. 

In the fifth, the Pioneers added to their advantage with five more runs. With two on and one out, Sacred Heart took advantage of two Bellarmine errors, as a Kowalski RBI single scored two to make it a 6-2 game. Two more errors and an RBI ground-out gave the Pioneers three more runs to build its lead to 9-2 after five. 

The Knights got on the scoreboard next in the top of the seventh with two runs, but it proved not enough as SHU didn't need to appear in its half of the inning to secure a season-opening 9-4 victory. Kowalski earned her first collegiate victory by tossing all 7.0 innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out three. 

Game 2: FUR 10, SHU 2
Pitchers:
Liv Vadas (SHU)- (L, 1.1 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 0-1 record)
Carlie Williams (SHU)- (1.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run)
Carly Koltko (SHU)- (1.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs)
Lauralee Scott (FUR)- (W, 5.0 innings pitched, 2 runs, 8 strikeouts, 1-1 record)

Top Performers:
Amy Petrovich (SHU)- 2-3
Nicole Henke (SHU) – 1-3, 1 RBI

Of Note:
The Paladins sprinted to an early 7-0 lead after scoring five runs in the first inning and two in the second. A Riley Ludlam two-run home run to right field highlighted Furman's early success.

Sacred Heart broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the third. With the bases loaded and two outs, Nicole Henke tallied her first RBI of the season by bringing Amy Petrovich home from third on a single. Unfortunately for the Pios, a strikeout in the next at-bat halted their momentum as the game went to the bottom of the third with Furman up 7-1. 

After the Paladins widened its lead to 8-1, the Pioneers answered with a run in the top of the fourth. With Victoria LoPinto on first and two outs, Jenna Mowad sent a deep fly to right, which allowed the speedy LoPinto to score from first to cut the deficit to 8-2. 

For the fourth straight inning, Furman put more points up on the board, taking a 10-2 lead into the top of the fifth. At that point, the Paladins' Lauralee Scott struck out two of her final three batters to seal a 10-2 win for the home team in five innings. 

Up Next
The Pioneers are back tomorrow morning for day two of the Furman Invitational. SHU opens the day at 9 a.m. against Bellarmine before battling Binghamton University at 11:30 a.m.