BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The bats came alive for the Sacred Heart University softball team as the Pioneers topped a hot Gardner-Webb program by a 6-3 final score on Saturday evening at the Red and Black Classic. Today's game was pushed back to 7 p.m. due to rain, and it featured one delay because of the weather. 

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

SHU 6, GWU 3
Pitchers:
Carah Sweet (SHU) - (3.2 innings pitched, 2 earned runs)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 3.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts, 1-0 record)
Alli Stidham (GWU) - (L, 2.2 innings pitched, 5 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 2-1 record)
Hannah Frye (GWU) - (3.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout)
Anna Hornbaker (GWU) - (1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned run, 1 strikeout)

Top Performers:
Carly Koltko – 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 double, 1 walk
Cierra Bender – 1-4, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 home run

Of Note:
Following a scoreless first two innings, the Pioneers' bats caught fire in the top of the third. With one out, Morgan Teodosio worked a walk before Cierra Bender fired a homer to left field to make it a 2-0 game. Jess Brown singled in the next at-bat before being driven home on a Carly Koltko single and an outfield throwing error. A walk and another single loaded the bases for Katherine Burras, who singled up the middle for a two-RBI first-career hit. 

With the Pioneers ahead 5-0, the Runnin' Bulldogs started to chip away with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Gardner-Webb tallied a two-run single to cut the margin to 5-2. 

The Runnin' Bulldogs scored again in the fifth to make it a 5-3 game. 

SHU expanded its lead back to three runs, 6-3, in the top of the seventh. Back-to-back doubles from Nicole Henke and Koltko helped add to the Pioneers' cushion. 

A three-run lead was enough for Sam Kowalski to close the game. The outstanding junior struck out the first two batters for GWU in the seventh before earning her first win of the season with a flyout to left. Kowalski finished the day with one earned run and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work. Carah Sweet allowed two earned runs over 3.2 innings in a no-decision. 

Up Next
The Pioneers will close the Red and Black Classic tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. against Iona.