FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team welcomes Marist to Pioneer Park this weekend for a trio of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) games. The weekend series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 18, at noon before concluding on Saturday with a single game also starting at noon.  

Game Information
Game 1: Sacred Heart vs. Marist (MAAC) – Friday, Apr. 18; 12:00 p.m. 
Game 2: Sacred Heart vs. Marist (MAAC) – Friday, Apr. 18; 2:00 p.m. 
Game 3: Sacred Heart vs. Marist (MAAC) – Saturday, Apr. 19; 12:00 p.m.
* All live video and stat links can be found on sacredheartpioneers.com 

LAST TIME OUT
Sacred Heart made a crosstown trip to Fairfield on Tuesday and handed the Stags a pair of losses on their home diamond. Sam Kowalski opened the doubleheader with a gem pitching performance to lead the Pioneers to a thrilling 2-1 win in the opener. SHU's offense rode that momentum to an 8-2 victory in the nightcap. Kowalski finished the doubleheader with a 1.91 ERA and nine strikeouts over 11.0 innings. The standout junior also did her part at the plate to lead SHU to the sweep, as she tallied a hit and an RBI in both contests, with her RBI in game one serving as the game-winner. Carly Koltko also put on a show at the plate, hitting .500 (3-for-6) with two runs, one RBI, a homer and a double. 

DOUBLE WIN DAY
Kowalski pulled off a rare feat on Tuesday, as she was the winning pitcher in both ends of SHU's sweep of the Stags. She has won both games of a doubleheader twice this season, also doing so against Saint Peter's on Apr. 1. Tuesday's wins were different, though, as she started both bouts. Kowalski was outstanding at working out of jams against the Stags as she improved her record on the year to 10-9. 
 
SCOUTING MARIST
The Red Foxes started the season on fire but have hit a rough patch lately, losing two of their last four and tying another. Marist is second in the MAAC at 8-2-1 after last splitting a doubleheader at Rider and losing one and tying another at Siena. Despite the recent struggles, Marist continues to own some of the best stats in all of Division I. The Red Foxes rank third nationally in shutouts (16), fourth in ERA (1.93), eighth in home runs (71) and 20th in batting average (.339). Graduate infielder Miah McDonald commands the offense, ranking third in DI with 55 runs and fourth with 19 home runs. Graduate pitcher Kiley Myers leads Marist's potent pitching staff with a 1.05 ERA, which ranks fourth in the country. She is 15-1 on the season, the loss coming at Siena on Apr. 11. 

UP NEXT
The Pioneers conclude their home slate with a home MAAC series against Quinnipiac. The series will begin on Saturday, Apr. 26, with a noon doubleheader, which will also stand as SHU's Senior Day.