It was the bottom of the 9th inning, a 1-1 game with two outs in Sacred Heart softball’s season opener against the University of Akron in the Low County Classic in Charleston, S.C. Senior pitcher/infielder Sam Kowalski stepped up to the plate, just looking to put the ball in play. The pitch was thrown by Akron junior Madie Jamrog and slammed over the fence by Kowalski for the game-ending home run.
“I was not looking to hit a home run. I was trying to hit the ball hard, and that’s what I did,” said Kowalski.
Kowalski didn’t just win the game for the Pioneers offensively; she also dominated the pitchers mound, allowing zero earned runs on only four hits in the Feb. 13 win.
Source: Josh Gee, ‘26
“I don’t really feel the stress because I know my team has my back on the field and off the field,” said Kowalski. “I’ve got eight other girls to help me. I rely on my teammates to make the plays in the field as I hit my spots.”
After the win against Akron, the Pioneers dropped their next four games. Losing to Charleston Southern University, University of Pennsylvania, and two games against the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Pios ended their weekend in Charleston at 1-4.
“Sam pitched a gem that first game, where I’m not sure many balls were hit very hard because she pitched so well,” said head coach Pam London. “The next game, the balls were coming at us much harder.”
London also explained this was her team’s first time playing on grass because of the winter weather. This external factor could have had an impact on the Pioneer’s performance.
Despite the four losses, the women were swinging the bat well, with three different players tallying home runs and junior infielder Cierra Bender tallying an impressive eight hit weekend.
“I would definitely say we have a lot of potential, and we have a lot to show even after this past weekend. I know we will succeed from here,” said Bender.
Looking ahead, the Pioneers hope to pick back up their game at the Capital City Classic in California. The women will take on the University of Nevada, San Jose State University, California State University Sacramento, Santa Clara University and University of California Davis.
