FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University softball team suffered a pair of one-run losses Wednesday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play against Manhattan at Pioneer Park. The Pioneers fell 1-0 and 4-3 despite outhitting their opponent in both contests. 

Team Records:
Sacred Heart (16-19, 6-6 MAAC)
Manhattan (7-21, 4-6 MAAC)

Game 1: MU 1, SHU 0
Pitchers:
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (L, 7.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 8 strikeouts, 8-9 record)
Karissa Spring (MU) - (W, 7.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 5-12 record)

Top Performers:
Savannah Moore – 1-2
Sam Kowalski – 1-2

Of Note:
The pitchers dominated the action in the first three innings, as the game went scoreless into the fourth. SHU had its chances at the plate, putting runners on in all three frames, but the Jaspers held strong to conserve the tie. 

Manhattan put the first and only run of the game on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. A hit-by-pitch and a fielder's choice, where no one was out, put two runners on quickly. Two outs followed, but back-to-back walks brought the contest's first run across. 

From that point, the pitching duel resumed as the duo combined to give up five hits, with just two coming after the fourth inning. Manhattan's Karissa Spring did what she needed to do to get her fifth win of the season, putting the Pios down in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to seal the victory. 

Sam Kowalski was just as good as her counterpart, as she also threw a complete game, finishing with just one hit allowed. The junior also struck out eight batters, a number she has reached five times this year. 

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Game 2: MU 4, SHU 3
Pitchers:
Emily Heath (SHU) - (L, 3.1 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 4-7 record)
Carah Sweet (SHU) - (1.2 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Sam Kowalski (SHU) - (2.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 3 strikeouts)
Sophia Kiseloski (MU) - (W, 4.2 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 2-5 record)
Victoria Diaz (MU) - (1.1 innings pitched, 0 earned runs)
Karissa Spring (MU) - (1.0 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 1 save)

Top Performers:
Carly Koltko – 3-4, 2 RBIs
Charlene Davis – 3-4 

Of Note:
Manhattan again struck first against the Pioneers, plating two in the top of the first to build an early 2-0 lead. 

SHU answered in the home half of the inning, with Carly Koltko bringing in the Pios' first run of the day. After Olivia Bibbo singled and advanced to second on a sac bunt, Koltko sent a ball to right center that allowed the speedy Bibbo to score from second. 

After scoreless second and third innings, the Jaspers added two runs in the fourth to make it a 4-1 game. 

The Pioneers' offense started to come alive again in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs to make it a 4-3 contest. After two quick outs, SHU strung together four straight singles, with the last two scoring runs. Koltko and Morgan Teodosio each tallied an RBI, while Cierra Bender and Morgan Fitzgerald each scored runs. 

Needing a run, Sacred Heart made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh after starting the frame with two singles and a sacrifice bunt. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, a costly popup and a fly-out sealed a defeat at the hands of the Jaspers. 

SHU used Emily Heath, Carah Sweet and Kowalski in the circle in game two. Heath started and game up four runs over 3.1 innings. Sweet and Kowalski entered in relief, as both struck out three and did not give up a run. With three K's in game two, Kowalski is three shy of 400 in her lillustrious career. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers are slated to head to Boston this weekend for a pair of games at BU on Saturday, Apr. 12.