The Sacred Heart University softball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against Mount St. Mary’s on April 18 in Emmitsburg, Maryland, taking the first game 4-2 before falling in extra innings in the second game.
This series is significant for both teams as they compete for positioning within the conference standings with only six league games remaining.
In the opener, Sacred Heart took an early lead with a run in the first inning and added three more in the second. Senior Kaelyn Freed hit her first collegiate home run to start off the scoring surge, followed by Cierra Bender’s two-run homer to left-center field. Pitcher Emily Heath earned her fourth win of the season by pitching a complete game and allowing just one earned run on six hits.
The second game saw Sacred Heart take another early lead with Nicole Henke hitting her sixth home run of the year. After Mount St. Mary’s responded to go ahead 2-1, Olivia Bibbo tied it up for Sacred Heart by scoring on an error after reaching base with a single. The contest remained tied until extra innings when Avery Dinges singled and later scored on a groundout after stealing second base, giving Mount St. Mary’s a walk-off win.
With these results, Sacred Heart halted an eight-game losing streak and now holds an overall record of 16-27 (11-10 MAAC), while Mount St. Mary’s stands at 15-24 (10-8 MAAC). The Pioneers currently sit eighth in conference standings with a .524 winning percentage among tightly grouped fifth through eighth seeds.
The teams are scheduled to play again tomorrow at noon at Our Lady of the Meadows Field.
