The Sacred Heart University softball team secured two important victories over Merrimack on April 29, winning both games of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader by identical 2-0 scores.
These wins help Sacred Heart move ahead in the MAAC standings, separating them from Merrimack for the eighth and final spot in the upcoming conference tournament. With three games left in the regular season, Sacred Heart now holds a two-game lead over Merrimack and sits just one game behind Rider for seventh place and two games behind Canisius for sixth.
In the first game, pitcher Sam Kowalski delivered a complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts, tying her career high. Morgan Teodosio contributed offensively with two doubles and an RBI, while Nicole Henke added a run-scoring single. The Pioneers scored their runs in the fourth and seventh innings to secure the win.
The second game saw Carah Sweet start strong on the mound, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings before Kowalski came in to earn her second save of the season. Charlene Davis led at the plate with two hits and an RBI. Sacred Heart took an early lead in the first inning and added another run in the fifth after loading the bases.
With these results, Sacred Heart improves its record to 21-24 overall and 11-11 in conference play. The team will travel to Buffalo for a three-game series against Canisius on May 2-3 as they continue their push for a higher seed in the MAAC tournament.
