LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Sacred Heart University softball team topped Ball State, 11-3, in the second game of today's doubleheader at the Flames Classic to earn a split against the Cardinals. The Pios fell in game one by a 10-1 final score on Friday afternoon. 

Team Records
Sacred Heart (6-7)
Ball State (10-10)

Game 1: BS 10, SHU 1
Pitchers:
Carly Koltko (SHU) - (L, 2.0 innings pitched, 6 earned runs, 1-2 record)
Liv Vadas (SHU) - (5.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Alyssa Stramaglia (BS) - (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts, 3-2 record) 

Top Performers:
Alyssa Gonzalez (SHU) – 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 home run, 1 double, 1 walk

Of Note:
The Cardinals opened game one with a four-run first inning, posting a two-run double and two-run home run. However, Carly Koltko settled in from there by retiring three straight batters in the second to keep the Cardinals' lead at 4-0. 

Ball State added to its advantage with two runs in the third, one run in the fourth, and one run in the sixth to build an 8-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth. 

The Pios broke onto the scoreboard in the sixth with a solo homer from Alyssa Gonzalez. The senior blasted her fourth home run of the season over the left field fence to cut SHU's deficit to 8-1. 

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the seventh to secure the series' opening victory.  

Game 2: SHU 11, BS 3
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 5.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 4-3 record)
Francys King (BS) - (L, 3.1 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1-5 record)
Angelina Russo (BS) - (1.2 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts) 

Top Performers:
Alyssa Gonzalez (SHU) – 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 1 home run, 1 double
Emily Carroll (SHU) – 2-3, 2 runs
Victoria LoPinto (SHU) – 2-2, 2 runs, 1 walk

Of Note:
The Cardinals took the first lead of game two, scoring a run on three hits in the bottom of the first. 

SHU answered in a big way in the top of the second, scoring five runs to build a 5-1 advantage. The inning started with a leadoff double by Gonzalez. Then, two Ball State errors put one more SHU runner on and allowed Gonzalez to score. 

Victoria LoPinto singled in the next at-bat, which led to Emily Carroll scoring after a catcher's interference call. The frame was capped by a two-RBI triple from Jenna Mowad, who scored on the hit after another Cardinals error. 

Ball State answered in the home half of the inning, scoring two runs on a pair of hits to cut its deficit to two, 5-3. 

The Pios took complete control of the contest in the top of the fourth inning, plating six runs to take a commanding 11-3 advantage. Following a pair of singles and a pop-up to start the frame, Haile Ebert tallied her first hit of the season, an RBI double to right. Amy Petrovich also scored on the play after a Cardinals' error. 

Gonzalez added to the explosive inning by smashing a two-run bomb to left, her second home run of the day. Then, Sam Kowalski and Mowad each brought in a run with a single and a walk, respectively, to end the scoring in the frame.

An eight-run lead was more than enough for Kowalski in the circle, as she allowed just one hit over the fourth and fifth innings to secure her fourth victory of the season. 

Up Next
The Pioneers will end the Flames Classic tomorrow with a doubleheader against Maryland and Fairfield. SHU will play the Terps first at noon before returning to the field at 4:30 p.m. to play the Stags.