FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team is set to kick off a historic 2025 season on Friday, Feb. 14, at the Red and Black Classic, hosted by Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C.

Red and Black Classic Game Information 
Game 1: Sacred Heart vs. Robert Morris – Friday, Feb. 14; 12:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Game 2: Sacred Heart at Gardner-Webb – Friday, Feb. 14; 5:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Game 3: Sacred Heart vs. Iona – Saturday, Feb. 15; 12:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Game 4: Sacred Heart at Gardner-Webb – Saturday, Feb. 15; 5:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Game 5: Sacred Heart vs. Iona – Sunday, Feb. 16; 10:00 a.m. | Live Stats

A LOOK BACK AT LAST SEASON
The Pioneers had their best season in five years in 2024, winning 27 games and making their first Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament appearance since 2021. SHU won seven of eight NEC series and finished with a 16-8 overall record to take the third seed in the league tournament. The Pioneers opened the event with a 6-3 win over No. 2 LIU but back-to-back losses to eventual champs No. 1 Saint Francis and No. 4 Central Connecticut State ended SHU's year. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025
Sacred Heart returns a good portion of its roster from last season, including all four of its All-NEC Honorees. Charlene Davis and Cierra Bender came back after receiving First Team accolades, while Emily Heath and Carly Koltko were Second Teamers. Davis, Heath, and Koltko all set new career highs as sophomores and juniors last season, while Bender posted an incredible debut campaign. 

PRESEASON POLL 
Heading into their first season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), the Pioneers were slotted in a tie for seventh in the league's preseason poll. SHU tied crosstown rival Fairfield with 94 points, just two shy of matching No. 6 Iona. Marist took the top spot with 167 points and 11 first-place votes, while Siena was second with 146. Canisius, Niagara and Rider all tied for third place with 120 points. 

AYE AYE, CAPTAINS
Before the start of the new season, head coach Pam London announced Morgan Teodosio, Sam Kowalski and Heath will serve as the team's captains. All three players played a significant role on the team last season and will be leaned for leadership as the year progresses. 

SCOUTING THE FIELD
The Pioneers will play Robert Morris, Iona and the host Bulldogs at the Red and Black Classic. SHU will battle both Gardner-Webb and Iona twice and Robert Morris once. 

Robert Morris 
The Colonials will also open 2025 on Friday, playing the Gaels first in the morning before their run-in with the Pioneers. RMU finished last season with a 20-24 overall record and a 13-10 mark in the Horizon League to earn the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. The Colonials ended up falling in the semifinals to No. 4 Northern Kentucky. RMU was tabbed second in the 2025 Horizon League Preseason Poll, returning 14 players from last year's squad. 

Gardner-Webb 
The hosting Bulldogs are the only team at the tournament that has opened their season already. GWU is 3-1 this year, with a win over West Georgia and two over Drexel. Following the strong first week of play, junior shortstop Ella Christopher was tabbed the Big South after hitting .769 with 10 hits, three runs, eight RBI, three doubles, a home run, a walk and a steal across 13 at-bats. Gardner-Webb, who owned a 33-20 record in 2024, was tabbed fourth in the Big South Preseason Poll. 

Iona
Despite both teams playing in the MAAC, these two non-conference tilts will serve as the two team's only meetings in the regular season. Iona was picked just one spot ahead of the Pioneers in the MAAC Preseason Poll with 96 points, two clear of SHU and Fairfield at 94. The Gaels went 18-29 last season and made the MAAC Tournament as the No. 5 seed. First-year head coach Carla Campagna returns 10 letter winners. 

UP NEXT
The Pioneers will head back to the Tar Heel State on Mar. 1 for two games against both Elon and UNC Greensboro. The opener of the series will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 1, at Elon.