LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Sacred Heart University softball team rallied from three runs down in the sixth to defeat Fairfield, 6-3, in its Flames Classic finale on Saturday evening in Lynchburg, Va. In their opener, the Pioneers went toe-to-toe with a challenging Maryland team, falling in a hard-fought 4-1 bout to begin the day. 

Team Records
Sacred Heart (7-8)
Maryland (19-4)
Fairfield (3-9)

Game 1: MAR 4, SHU 1
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (L, 7.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 7 strikeouts, 4-4 record) 
Trinity Schlotterbeck (MAR) - (W, 4.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts, 9-1 record)
Keira Bucher (MAR) - (S, 3.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts) 

Top Performers:
Nicole Henke – 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 double
Alyssa Gonzalez (SHU) – 2-3

Of Note:
Maryland put the first three runs on the scoreboard in the opener. The Terps tallied one run in the second and two in the fourth to go ahead 3-0. Despite scoring three runs, Maryland only had four hits through four innings. 

SHU recorded a trio of hits in the bottom of the fourth, putting its first run on the board in the frame. Emily Carroll and Alyssa Gonzalez got on base with singles, setting up Nicole Henke for an RBI double to right field. 

Unfortunately, the Pioneers could not bring any more runs in over the final three innings. The Terps added an insurance run in the sixth to seal a 4-1 victory. 

Game 2: SHU 6, FAR 3
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) - (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, 1-0 record)
Allie Bridgman (FAR) - (L, 7.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 6 strikeouts 1-4 record) 

Top Performers:
Emily Carroll (SHU) – 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 1 double
Nicole Henke (SHU) – 1-3, 2 RBI
Amy Petrovich (SHU) – 1-3, 2 runs, 1 double

Of Note:
Fairfield controlled the game through the first five innings, holding a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the sixth. 

The Pios started to come alive in the sixth, trimming their deficit to one, 3-2, with some timely hitting. 

Amy Petrovich began the frame with a double before Carroll singled to put runners on first and second. Two strikeouts ensued, leading to Henke stepping to the plate with two outs. Despite the situation, the first year did not disappoint, as she sent a single to right to plate both Petrovich and Carroll before being thrown out at second to end the inning.

After a scoreless bottom of the sixth, SHU needed more two-out hitting to complete its comeback in the seventh. With the bases loaded and two out, Carroll stepped up and ripped a double to left to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game, 4-3. 

Gonzalez gave the Pios extra breathing room in the next at-bat by driving home Petrovich and Carroll with a single down the right field line to extend SHU's advantage to 6-3.  

With the lead for the first time in the game, Emily Heath put the finishing touches on her first collegiate victory by allowing one base runner in the bottom of the seventh to secure a 6-3 comeback win for the Pioneers. Heath tossed all 7.0 innings against the Stags, finishing with six strikeouts and just two earned runs. 

Up Next
Sacred Heart will finally kick off its home slate on Thursday, March 16, with a doubleheader against Stony Brook. The first of the two games is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.