BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Sacred Heart University softball team pulled off a comeback Sunday morning to earn a 10-7 victory over Iona in its final game at the Red and Black Classic, hosted by Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Team Records
Sacred Heart (2-2)
Iona (0-4)
SHU 10, Iona 7
Pitchers:
Elle Leckrone (SHU) - (0.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs)
Emily Heath (SHU) - (0.1 innings pitched, 3 earned runs)
Carah Sweet (SHU) - (W, 6.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 5 strikeouts, 1-0 record)
N. Andarowsk (Iona) - (0.2 innings pitched, 4 earned runs)
H. Donnelly (Iona) - (3.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts)
A. Hoppe (Iona) - (L, 3.0 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 0-2 record)
Top Performers:
Charlene Davis – 3-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 home run, 1 double
Cierra Bender – 3-5, 4 RBIs, 1 double
Savannah Moore – 3-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 double
Of Note:
The Pioneers did not let the rain cool off their hot bats in the first inning, as SHU burst out to a quick 4-0 lead.
Sam Kowalski brought in the first run with a double before
Carly Koltko got plunked with a pitch to put on two with two outs.
Charlene Davis stepped to the plate next and blasted a three-run homer to left center to make it a 4-0 game.
Unfortunately for the Pioneers, their pitching struggled in the home half of the first as the Gaels surged to a 7-4 lead. Iona took advantage of six walks and two wild pitches to score seven runs on two hits.
Both pitching staffs settled in from there, as the next run was not scored until the top of the fourth inning.
Cierra Bender plated two runs in the fourth on a two-RBI double down the left field line.
Savannah Moore scored after tallying a single and
Morgan Teodosio got home after working a walk to cut Iona's advantage to 7-6.
SHU retook the lead in the fifth with another two-run inning. Following two singles and a walk, Bender came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. The surging sophomore singled through the right side to plate both Moore and
Cayla Nista to build an 8-7 lead.
The Pioneers added two more insurance runs in the sixth to build a 10-7 advantage. SHU started the frame with two outs before Davis recorded a double and
Olivia Bibbo recorded her first career hit with a single. Moore brought both home by finding the left-center gap.
In the circle,
Carah Sweet tossed a gem after entering in relief in the first inning. The first year earned her first win by allowing no earned runs over 6.2 innings. Sweet struck out five and walked just one batter.
Up Next
Sacred Heart will have off until Saturday, Mar. 1, for an 11 a.m. bout at Elon in Elon, N.C.
