HAMDEN, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team split a road nonconference doubleheader at Quinnipiac on Wednesday afternoon, winning the opener by a 4-1 final score. The Pioneers suffered a 7-1 setback in the nightcap. 

Team Records:
Sacred Heart (19-23)
Quinnipiac (16-15)  

Game 1: SHU 4, QU 1
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts, 11-9 record)
Jaclyn Gonzalez (QU) – (L, 3.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 8-6 record)
Lauren Hilliard (QU) – (3.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts)
Sydney Horan (QU) – (1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned run)

Top Performers:
Emily Carroll (SHU) – 1-4, 1 run
Carly Koltko (SHU) – 1-4, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – 1-4, 2 RBIs, 1 double

Of Note:
The Pioneers got off to a strong start in the opener, leaving the first inning with a 3-0 lead. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases before a sac fly brought in the first run of the game. SHU starting pitcher Sam Kowalski then stepped to the plate and helped her own cause with a two-run double. 

After the Bobcats got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, the Pioneers answered in the fifth to retake a three-run advantage. Carly Koltko led off the fifth with a rocket down the left line for her sixth home run of the season. 

In the circle, Kowalski earned the complete-game win with 7.0 innings of one-run ball. She struck out five Bobcat batters on the way to her 11th win of the season. 

Game 2: QU 7, SHU 1
Pitchers:
Genevieve Gleason (SHU) – (L, 4.1 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 0-2 record)
Emily Heath (SHU) – (1.2 innings pitched, 3 earned run, 1 strikeout)
Jaclyn Gonzalez (QU) – (W, 3.1 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 8-6 record)
Sydney Horan (QU) – (S, 3.2 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts)

Top Performers:
Victoria LoPinto (SHU) – 1-2, 1 run, 1 triple

Of Note:
The Bobcats opened game two with one run in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. 

Pitching took over after the first, as both starters kept the score at 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when Quinnipiac added another run to make it a 2-0 game. 

The Pioneers got a spark of offense at the top of the fifth, as Victoria LoPinto scored the team's first run by herself. The senior led off the inning with a triple before scoring on a passed ball in the next at-bat. 

Unfortunately for Sacred Heart, it did not score another run for the rest of the game. On the other hand, the Bobcats added five runs to their total to secure a 7-1 victory. 

Genevieve Gleason started game two and represented herself well with three earned over 4.1 innings. Emily Heath threw the final 1.2 innings, finishing with one strikeout. 

Up Next:
Sacred Heart returns to Northeast Conference (NEC) play on Saturday, April 20, for a road doubleheader at LIU beginning at 1 p.m.