NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Sacred Heart University softball team began its Northeast Conference (NEC) series at Merrimack with a doubleheader split Sunday. SHU took the opener 6-1 in eight innings behind a career performance from Sam Kowalski in the circle. The Warriors claimed the nightcap, 5-3. 

Team Records:
Sacred Heart (14-18, 8-2 NEC)
Merrimack (12-21, 6-3 NEC)

Game 1 – SHU 6, Merrimack 1 (8 inn.)
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) – (W, 8.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 12 strikeouts, 8-8 record)
Madie Fornwalt (MC) – (L, 8.0 innings pitched, 6 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 6-6 record)

Top Performers:
Carly Koltko (SHU) – 2-5, 1 run, 4 RBIs, 1 home run
Cierra Bender (SHU) – 2-5, 1 run, 2 RBIs
Jenna Mowad (SHU) – 2-2, 1 run, 2 walks

Of Note:
The Pios broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the first inning behind two singles and a walk. Following a leadoff walk and a single from Emily Carroll, Carly Koltko brought in the opening run with a dibbling single to first base to give SHU a 1-0 lead. 

From that point, the game's starting pitchers took over, as neither team got on the scoreboard again until the sixth inning. SHU's starter, Kowalski, recorded one of the best starts of her career, as she allowed one earned run while striking out a career-best 12 batters. A Pioneers' pitcher had not had 12 strikeouts since Emily Orosco fanned 12 FDU batters on March 30, 2019. 

The lone run allowed by Kowalski came in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the game went to an eighth frame tied at 1-1. 

In the eighth, the Pioneers' bats came alive with three hits and two walks to score five runs. Cierra Bender drove in two of the runs on an RBI single, while Koltko continued her stellar game with a three-run homer, her third in the last four games. 

Kowalski put the finishing touches on her eighth win of the season with a 1-2-3 eighth inning. 

Game 2 – Merrimack 5, SHU 3
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) – (L, 6.0 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 8 strikeouts, 6-8 record)
Anna Gedacht (MC) – (2.2 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 strikeout)
Cecelia Imbimbo (MC) – (W, 4.1 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 2-5 record)


Top Performers:
Carly Koltko (SHU) – 2-3, 1 run, 1 walk
Charlene Davis (SHU) – 3-3
Victoria LoPinto (SHU) – 2-4

Of Note:
Merrimack jumped out to a lead in game two, putting a run on the scoreboard in the first and second innings to go up 2-0. 

Sacred Heart answered in the third with three runs to storm ahead 3-2. Following an inning-opening strikeout, the next two SHU batters singled before a fielder's choice brought the second out. Three straight two-out singles followed as Koltko plated one run and Carroll scored two for the Pios. 

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the third inning marked the end of their scoring in game two, as they finished the bout with three runs. On the other hand, Merrimack added one run in the third and two in the fourth to go ahead 5-3. 

SHU came close to tying the score in the sixth and seventh innings, putting two runners on in the sixth and three in the seventh. Unfortunately, the Warriors kept the visitors at bay to secure a 5-3 win. 

In the circle, Emily Heath threw all 6.0 innings for the Pioneers, allowing five earned runs with a season-best eight strikeouts. 

Up Next:
Sacred Heart and Merrimack will play the rubber match of their series tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. in North Andover, Mass.