NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team split its second day at the Bulldogs Invitational on Saturday afternoon at the 5K Corral Field in New Haven, Conn. The Pioneers first gutted out a 9-7 win in the opener before falling 9-0 to Maine in the nightcap. 

Team Records
Sacred Heart (6-8)
Maine (3-13)
CCSU (2-12)

Game 1: SHU 9, CCSU 7
Pitchers:
Carah Sweet (SHU) - (2.2 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Elle Leckrone (SHU) - (W, 1.1 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 1-0 record)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (S, 3.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, 1)
Adrianna Green (CCSU) - (L, 3.2 innings pitched, 7 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 0-3 record) 
Liz Hamilton (CCSU) - (3.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts) 

SHU Top Performers:
Savannah Moore – 4-5, 4 RBIs, 1 run, 1 double
Morgan Teodosio – 2-4, 2 runs, 1 double
 
Of Note:
Savannah Moore got things going in a frigid opener, plating the game's first run with a double in the top of the third inning. The hot-hitting sophomore blasted a one-out double to left to bring Kaelyn Freed home after a walk. 

The CCSU bats came alive in the bottom of the third, putting four on the scoreboard to take a 4-1 lead. 

Sacred Heart was ready with an answer in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded and two out, the Pioneers strung together five straight singles to bring in six runs. Freed, Moore, Jess Brown, Charlene Davis and Carly Koltko all tallied RBI singles in the inning to give SHU a 7-4 advantage. 

The Pioneers added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning to increase their lead to 9-5. Moore brought in both runs with a single to center, giving her a 4-for-5 day with four RBIs. 

The Blue Devils threatened in the fifth and sixth innings, but SHU slammed the door shut to earn a 9-7 victory. 

Carah Sweet, Elle Leckrone and Sam Kowalski saw time in the circle for SHU. Sweet started and went 2.2 innings with two strikeouts. Leckrone earned the win with 1.1 innings pitched and a strikeout, while Kowalski claimed the save with 3.0 innings, zero earned runs and three K's. 

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Game 1: SHU 7, Maine 0
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) - (L, 4.2 innings pitched, 7 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 1-4 record)
Elle Leckrone (SHU) - (1.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 strikeout)
Alysen Rieth (Maine) - (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 7 strikeouts, 2-6)

Top Performers:
Nicole Henke – 1-2, 1 walk, 1 double

Of Note:
Following a scoreless first inning, Maine put together a five-run second to storm into the lead. 

Neither team scored in the third and fourth innings, but the Black Bears added to their advantage in the fifth. Two runs in the fifth and two in the seventh secured Maine's 9-0 win. 

The Pioneers finished the game with three hits, as Jess Brown, Elle Leckrone and Nicole Henke all got hits. Henke ended the game 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. 

In the circle, Emily Heath started and went 4.2 innings. Leckrone entered in relief and went 2.1 frames. 

Up Next
SHU brings an end to the Bulldog Invitational tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. against the hosting Bulldogs.