BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Sacred Heart University softball team opened its 2025 season with two losses at the Red and Black Classic on Saturday, Feb. 14, in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Pioneers first dropped a 1-0 pitching battle to Robert Morris before falling by a 10-2 final score to host Gardner-Webb in the nightcap. 

Team Records
Sacred Heart (0-2)
Robert Morris (2-0)
Gardner-Webb (6-1)

Game 1: RMU 1, SHU 0
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (L, 7.0 innings pitched, 1 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, 0-1 record)
Madelyn Coleman (RMU) - (W, 5.1 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 9 strikeouts, 1-0 record) 
Kaitlyn Molitoris (RMU) - (S, 1.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 1 save) 

SHU Top Performers:
Savannah Moore – 2-3, 1 double
Jess Brown – 2-3, 1 walk 
 
Of Note:
The Pioneers had multiple chances at the start of today's low-scoring game, as SHU had runners on base in each of the first three innings. Sacred Heart put three runners on in the third and two on in the second, but both times the Colonials worked out of the jam. 

Robert Morris broke through the scoreless start with a run in the fifth inning. Katlyn Jardine started the frame with a double before her pinch runner got driven to third with a sacrifice bunt. Lilly Stump brought in the game's only run in the next at-bat with a single though the left side. 

Sacred Heart again looked ready to answer with runners on in the sixth and seventh innings. The Pios had two on in the sixth following a Savannah Moore single, her second hit of the day, but just like in the earlier frames, RMU worked out of the trouble by not giving up any runs. 

Moore joined Jess Brown as the two Pioneers with two hits this afternoon. Sam Kowalski, Carly Koltko and Charlene Davis all finished with one hit against the Colonials. 

Kowalski was outstanding in the circle for SHU, giving up just one run this afternoon. The junior captain struck out six batters over 7.0 innings, spreading six hits and two walks across her first start of the season. 

Catherine Calzada made her collegiate debut in the opener, while Natalie Aiello, a junior transfer, made her SHU debut.

Game 2: GWU 10, SHU 2 (5 Inn.)
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) - (L, 2.2 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 0-1 record)
Carah Sweet (SHU) - (1.2 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 1 strikeout)  
Addie Stem (GWU) - (1.1 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Anna Hornbaker (GWU) - (3.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 1-0 record) 
Kalyn Kyle (GWU) - (0.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout) 

Top Performers:
Morgan Teodosio (SHU) – 1-2, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run, 1 walk
Cierra Bender (SHU) – 1-2, 1 walk, 1 stolen base

Of Note:
The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a double, single and an RBI groundout.

Following a scoreless second inning, GWU added three more in the third to go ahead 5-0. Ella Christopher started her impressive game in the third with a two-run homer. She finished the contest, going 4-for-4 with five RBIs, two runs and two home runs. 

Facing a five-run deficit, SHU's offense started to come alive in the top of the fourth. Kayla Roe began the inning with a single before Morgan Teodosio blasted a two-run shot to left field. 

Unfortunately for Sacred Heart, the fourth marked the end of the Pios' scoring. The Runnin' Bulldogs added five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game. Christopher's second homer of the tilt set the final score at 10-2 in five innings. 

In the circle, Emily Heath and Carah Sweet both pitched for the Pioneers. Heath went 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and three earned runs. In her first collegiate game, Sweet struck out one in 1.2.

Sweet joined Kayla Roe in seeing their first collegiate playing time against GWU.

Up Next
The Pioneers are back on the field tomorrow afternoon with a 12:30 p.m. bout against Iona. SHU is also slated to face Gardner-Webb again at 5:30 p.m.