BRIDGEPORT, CONN - The Sacred Heart University NCBA D3 Club Baseball team opened the 2026-27 season with a doubleheader against the "home team" Iona Gaels on a warm Saturday afternoon at Veterans Park. 

IMPACT PLAYERS 

Joseph Grande - 4 for 6 (.667 BA), 3 SB, 2 RBI
Aidan Sordi (Hitting) - 3 for 4 (.750 BA), 4 RBI, 5.1 IP 
Brett Spinosa - 6.0 IP, 1-0, 2H, 1R, 11K
Aidan Sordi (Pitching) - 5.1 IP, 1ER, 1.69 ERA, 8K

HOW IT HAPPENED

GAME ONE 

The Pioneers opening the scoring In the top of 1^st thanks to two RBI groundouts by Andrew Civetta and Logan Voltaire. In the 2nd, after a Gaels run Braeden Neal dumped an RBI Single to give the "visitors" a 3-1 lead. In the 3rd, it was mroe of the same thanks to once again Braeden Neal and Joseph Grande getting run-scoring hits to make it 6-1 Pios. 

Grande continued his "grand" day at the plate with another RBI hit in the 4^th to make it 7-1. Aidan Sordi joined in on the RBI action with a two run single in 4^th and 6^th to give the Pioneers their first win of the young season.

Brett Spinosa went 6 innings strong allowing only two hits and one run. He finished with a game-leading 11 strikeouts on the afternoon in the win. It was also the first career win for the skippers Trevin Reiger and Zack Dezinski.


GAME TWO 

Just like Game One, Sacred Heart opened the scoring with a Drew Biggins fielders choice but then the Gaels responded. Iona put up seven runs thanks to five Pioneer errors in the field. 

SHU scored three runs in the 6^th from a Michael Civetta RBI Single, Braeden Neal Sac Fly and a Matthew Fasulo groundout but it wasn't eniough as the Gaels took the second game 9-4.

Despite the loss, Aidan Sordi had a good outing on the mound allowing one earned run over 5.1 innings of four-hit ball. 

UP NEXT 

The Pios will stay at home to host the LIU Sharks on October 17^th for a doubleheader with games starting at 10AM and 12PM at Veterans Park.