FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team suffered a pair of losses in its Northeast Conference-opening doubleheader against Merrimack on Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Park. The Warriors took game one by an 11-1 final score before securing a 6-2 victory in the finale. 

Team Records
Sacred Heart (7-12, 0-2 NEC)
Merrimack (4-7, 2-0 NEC)

Game 1: MC 11, SHU 1
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (L, 4.1 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 5 strikeouts, 4-6 record) 
Carly Koltko (SHU) - (0.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs) 
Carlie Williams (SHU) - (0.2 innings pitched, 1 earned run) 
Bry Michitson (MC) - (W, 5.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 6 strikeouts, 3-2 record)

Top Performers:
Emily Carroll (SHU) – 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 double

Of Note:
The starting pitchers controlled the action early on in game one, as the first run was not scored until the bottom of the third inning. SHU's starter Sam Kowalski was cruising through the first three frames, giving up just one hit while striking out three batters over the three innings. 

The Pioneers took the first lead of the day in the bottom of the third. With Amy Petrovich on first after being hit by a pitch, Emily Carroll smoked a two-out double to deep center to give the Pios a 1-0 advantage. With a single in game two, Carroll has tallied a hit in seven straight games. 

The Warriors were quick to answer by plating a run of their own in the top of the fourth to even the contest at 1-1. A single and a pair of errors led to Merrimack's first run. However, Kowalski bounced back quickly by striking out two of the next three batters to keep the game tied. 

Unfortunately for SHU, the Warriors blew the contest wide open with a strong top of the fifth inning. Merrimack scored 10 runs on eight hits and an error to take a commanding 11-1 advantage. 

MC's Bry Michitson put the finishing touches on her five-inning victory in the circle by retiring the side in the fifth to seal an 11-1 win in the opener. 

Game 2: MC 6, SHU 2
Pitchers:
Liv Vadas (SHU) - (L, 6.1 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, 1-3 record)
Emily Heath (SHU) - (0.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Madie Fornwalt (MC) - (W, 6.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts, 1-4 record) 
Katelyn Thompson (MC) - (1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout) 

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

Of Note:
For the second straight game, the Pios opened the scoring in the third inning after a strong pitching start by both teams. Liv Vadas opened game two with three consecutive scoreless frames, including a three-up-three down second. 

The Pioneers broke onto the scoreboard in the third thanks to a two-out double from Petrovich. After hitting her double to right center, the graduate student crossed the plate following an error by the Warriors' third baseman. 

Again, Merrimack was quick to answer in the top of the fourth inning, as a hit and an error led to MC evening the game at 1-1. 

The Warriors added three runs to their lead in the top of the fifth to go ahead 4-1 after five. Madison Cerpa's two-run homer highlighted the frame for MC. 

A leadoff walk by Alyssa Gonzalez led to the Pioneers cutting the deficit to two, 4-2, in the bottom of the sixth. After Gonzalez walked and Meghan Knepper came in to pinch run, Nicole Henke hit her second double of the game to bring in the speedy Knepper for the score. 

Unfortunately for the Pios, the Warriors added two more insurance runs in the seventh to secure the 6-2 victory in the nightcap. 

Up Next
The Pioneers conclude their NEC series against the Warriors tomorrow at noon at Pioneer Park.