FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team went to crosstown rival Fairfield and handed the Stags a pair of losses in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Tuesday afternoon at Fairfield's Alumni Softball Field. SHU won the first game 2-1 behind a strong
Sam Kowalski pitching performance before taking an 8-2 victory in the nightcap.
Team Records:
Sacred Heart (18-19, 8-6 MAAC)
Fairfield (17-21, 10-5 MAAC)
Game 1: SHU 2, Fairfield 1
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 7 strikeouts, 9-9 record)
Alyssa Weinberg (Fairfield) - (L, 7.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 13 strikeouts, 12-6 record)
Top Performers:
Carly Koltko – 1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 home run, 1 walk
Sam Kowalski – 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 single
Of Note:
Following a first-inning run for the Stags, SHU answered in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1. One pitch into the inning,
Carly Koltko blasted a homer to straight center field to knot the score.
After a scoreless third, the Pioneers took a 2-1 advantage in the top of the fourth. Sacred Heart put two on with one out after a pair of walks before Kowalski gave SHU its first lead. The junior singled to right, which allowed a speedy
Kaelyn Freed to score from second.
The game got tense in the bottom of the sixth as Fairfield loaded the bases with one out. Kowalski was up for the challenge, forcing a fly out to right and a ground out to third.
Morgan Teodosio made a key throw on the fly ball, sending a rocket to the catcher to keep the runner at third base from scoring.
Kowalski put the finishing touches on a game-one gem in the seventh, going three up, three down to seal the win. She finished her fifth complete-game victory with seven strikeouts and stranded 11 Stags on base to improve to 9-9 on the season.
Game 2: SHU 8, Fairfield 2
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (W, 4.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 10-9 record)
Carah Sweet (SHU) - (S, 3.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 1 save)
Peyton Shields (Fairfield) - (L, 1.1 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 2-7 record)
Grace Conrad (Fairfield) - (5.2 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout)
Top Performers:
Morgan Teodosio – 2-4, 2 RBIs
Carly Koltko – 2-4, 1 run, 1 double
Nicole Henke – 2-4, 1 run, 1 double
Of Note:
Sacred Heart got a stellar start in the first inning, plating one to build a 1-0 lead.
Savannah Moore started the frame with a leadoff double before
Elle Leckrone brought her home with a single to right center.
SHU blew the game wide open in the top of the second, hanging six runs on the scoreboard to build a 7-0 advantage. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with no outs, with
Cierra Bender plating a run on a fielder's choice. A Stags' error brought in the next run before
Charlene Davis drove in two with a single down the left field line.
After Fairfield got the second out of the frame, back-to-back RBI singles from Teodosio and Kowalski gave the Pios their sixth and seventh runs.
The Stags answered with two runs in the bottom of the third to cut the margin to 7-2.
The pitchers settled in from there as the game's next run wasn't scored until the top of the seventh. SHU broke onto the scoreboard in the seventh by taking advantage of a
Carly Koltko double.
Cayla Nista came in to pinch run, scoring in the next at-bat after a Teodosio single to make it 8-2 Pioneers.
SHU slammed the door shut in the home half of the seventh with a 1-2-3 innings to seal an 8-2 win. Kowalski started her second game of the day, going 4.0 innings to earn her 10th win of the season. Kowalski allowed two earned and struck out two.
Carah Sweet threw the final 3.0 innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout to earn her first collegiate save.
Up Next:
The Pios next welcome Marist for a three-game series this weekend. SHU will play the Red Foxes in a doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 18, and the single game on Saturday, Apr. 19. Both days are slated to start at noon.
