FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team concludes its regular-season Northeast Conference slate with a weekend series against LIU on Friday and Sunday, April 28 and 30. The Pios and Sharks will start the weekend with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday before playing a single game Sunday. Following Sunday's bout, SHU will celebrate its Senior Day at Pioneer Park. 

SHU VS. LIU GAME INFORMATION 
Game 1: Sacred Heart vs. LIU – Friday, April 28; 1:00 p.m. Video | Live Stats
Game 2: Sacred Heart vs. LIU – Friday, April 28; 3:00 p.m. Video | Live Stats
Game 3: Sacred Heart vs. LIU – Sunday, May 7; 1:00 p.m. Video | Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT
The Pios dropped a pair of games at St. John's on Thursday afternoon. The Red Storm took game one 7-4 and game two 11-0. Sacred Heart trailed by one run, 5-4, after a four-run fourth inning in game one. Nicole Henke, Emily Carroll, and Victoria LoPinto all tallied RBI in the fourth frame for SHU. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, St. John's added insurance runs in the fourth and sixth innings to seal a 7-4 win. Carroll led the way for the Pioneers in the doubleheader, hitting .600 (3-for-5) with one run and two RBI. 

SENIOR DAY
Following Sunday's game against LIU, the Pios will celebrate their Senior Day for the 2023 season. SHU will recognize seniors Meghan Knepper, Liv Vadas, Madeline Scarola, Carlie Williams, and graduate student Myah Eldred. All five of these Pioneers have made essential contributions to the program over their tenures with the team. 

SCOUTING LIU
The Sharks enter this weekend tied at the top of the NEC standings with a 12-6 mark in conference. LIU last hosted Merrimack for a three-game series this past Friday and Saturday, falling in two of the three contests. The Sharks sandwiched a 9-7 win between 5-1 and 3-2 setbacks. LIU does its damage in the pitching circle, as it leads the conference with a 2.53 ERA and is second in the league with 254 strikeouts. Lindsey Cowans paces the staff and is second in the NEC with a 2.84 ERA with 120 strikeouts and 12 wins. Kira Buckner has also been exceptional, with a 2.87 ERA and six victories. On offense, Alexia Castro leads LIU with 23 RBI, seven home runs, and a .532 slugging percentage. Her seven homers trail just Alyssa Gonzalez (13) for the lead in the conference.