FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Seventh-inning runs by FDU doomed the Sacred Heart University softball team in the Knights' doubleheader sweep Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Park. FDU took game one by scoring all seven of their runs in the top of the seventh inning before rallying in game two to win 6-5. 

Team Records
Sacred Heart (9-16, 1-5 NEC)
FDU (11-14, 3-3 NEC)

Game 1: FDU 7, SHU 0
Pitchers:
Liv Vadas (SHU) - (L, 6.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, 2-4 record)
Jenna Pfister (SHU) - (0.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs)
Emily Heath (SHU) – (1.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs)
Alayna Savaglio (FDU) - (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 10 strikeouts, 4-4 record) 

Top Performers:
Carly Koltko (SHU) – 3-3, 1 double
Emily Carroll (SHU) – 2-4

Of Note:
The opening game featured a duel between the two starting pitchers, SHU's Liv Vadas and FDU's Alayna Savaglio. Both hurlers combined to keep the game scoreless until the seventh inning. Vadas spread six hits across the first six innings while striking out three batters. 

Unfortunately for the Pios, the Knights' bats caught fire in the top of the seventh, as FDU tallied seven runs on six hits to storm ahead 7-0. Savaglio capped off her impressive performance by shutting out the Pioneers in the seventh to earn the victory. 

SHU finished the contest with five hits, three of which came off the bat of Carly Koltko. The first baseman went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double. Today's game marked the sophomore's first three-hit outing. 

Game 2: FDU 6, SHU 5
Pitchers:
Liv Vadas (SHU) - (1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (L, 6.0 innings pitched, 6 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 4-8 record)
Malori Bell (FDU) - (4.1 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Julia Swan (FDU) - (W, 2.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 6-4 record) 

Top Performers:
Nicole Henke (SHU) – 2-3, 1 run, 3 RBI, 1 home run
Amy Petrovich (SHU) – 2-4, 1 run, 

Of Note:
Following an opening run by FDU in the second, the Pioneers took over the game for the next five innings. 

SHU's first runs came off the bat of Nicole Henke, who blasted a two-run homer to left field to make it a 2-1 game through 4.0 innings. Henke's home run is the fourth of her rookie season.

The Pios added three more runs in the fifth to take a 5-1 advantage. Following two singles and an intentional walk of Alyssa Gonzalez, Henke answered the call again with an RBI single to plate Jenna Mowad from third. Koltko came up next and drove in Amy Petrovich with an RBI single of her own. The final run of the frame came on a sacrifice fly from Sam Kowalski that allowed Gonzalez to check up and score from third. 

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the Knight's bats were again unstoppable in the top of the seventh, as they took a 6-5 lead with five runs in the frame. FDU tallied five runs on five hits, finishing the afternoon with a combined 12 runs and 11 hits in the seventh inning of both games. 

SHU threatened in the seventh with runners on first and third, but FDU wiggled out of the jam with a ground out to end the contest. 

Up Next
The Pios will next take a break from NEC play for a non-conference doubleheader against Siena on Wednesday, March 29, at 2 p.m. at Pioneer Park.