The Pioneers returned to Glenns Falls, New York in search of not only a third straight Nationals appearance, but regional championship as well.  This began with game one against the University of Vermont.  Going down 5-0 after two innings was not ideal, but the team took offense to that and stormed back with 7 unanswered runs in both the second and third inning.  This comeback was led by Captain Olivia Salveggi and Junior Hailey Perry contributing multi-run homeruns.  The pioneers never gave up the lead after that and took game one by a final score of 9-7.
 
Game two against University of Connecticut provided even more theatrics than the matchup prior.  Sacred Heart went up 4-1 early and looked to be in control in the early parts of the game led by Freshman Caitlin Ciccone and Freshman Kendall McNamara who pitched and hit.  Yet in the 4th inning UCONN regained the lead by a score of 6-4 and by the 7th Sacred Heart was down 8-5 at risk of having to play a third, and elimination, game against Cornell.  The Pioneers heroics began with 5 straight hits and only one out being recorded and ended with Junior Captain Mikayla Shepard hitting a walk-off single to not only win the game 9-8 but send Sacred Heart to Nationals after going 2-0 on the day.
 
Sacred Heart ended their trip Sunday morning with a 10-4 win against University of Cornell, completing their weekend with a 3-0 record and capturing a 3rd straight regional title.  After going down 3-0 in the first inning Pitcher Catherine Meyers shut down the Cornell line up the rest of the game and allowed the Pioneers to find themselves in the lead once again.  She collected 6 strikeouts while Junior Grace Warner and Freshman Kendall McNamara lead the way with their consistent hitting.   McNamara logged her first collegiate homerun and Meyers ended the game with a strikeout swinging, setting off a celebration and solidifying a 3-PEAT for the D1 Club Softball Team.
 
 
You can catch the Pioneers in action in Columbus, Georgia or on YouTube through the account JPR live May 15th-18th.  They begin nationals with pool play games Thursday May 15th versus NC State at 12PM, versus Colorado at 3PM, and Friday May 16th versus UC Davis at 10 AM.
 
Notable Stats From Regionals:
 
Hitting:
Kendall McNamara:7-12, 3 Doubles, 5 RBIS, HR 
Caitlin Ciccone: 8-11, 2 Doubles , 3 RBIs
Olivia Salveggi: 5-10, Walk, Double, 3-run HR
Hailey Perry: 5-11, Double, 2-Run HR
Mikayla Shepard: 3-9, 2 Walks, Walk-off Hit versus UCONN
 
Pitching:
Catherine Meyers: 7 IP, 6 Strikeouts, 4 ER, 2 walks, 5 hits, Pitched and won Regional Title Game