BRIDGEPORT, CONN - The Sacred Heart University NCBA D2 Club Baseball team opened the 2026-27 season with a dominating doubleheader sweep against the visiting Montclair State Redhawks on a warm Saturday afternoon at Veterans Park. 

IMPACT PLAYERS 

Mike Marano. - 5 for 7 (.714 BA), 2B, 3 RBI
Brian McGovern - 2 for 4 (.500 BA), 2B, 3 RBI
Nickolas Portanova - 6.0 IP, 1-0, 0R allowed after 1^st inning, 7K
Braden Golden - 5.0 IP, CG W, 1.80 ERA, 3K

HOW IT HAPPENED

GAME ONE 

The Redhawks struck first by scoring three runs in the 1st  inning but the Pios responded with an RBI single by Brian McGovern and a Jimmy Kennedy sac fly made it a one-run game in the bottom of the 2^nd inning. 

SHU drew even in the bottom of the 4^th thanks to a Frank Fressle RBI single to left but the Pioneers were not done. Jimmy Kennedy lined an RBI single to center field to give the Pios their first lead of the day. Dylan Casani dumped a two-run triple into center and Luke Blasi added an RBI single to add to the home sides commanding four run lead.

Sacred Heart put on three more runs in thr 5th thanks to a McGovern 2 RBI double and a Casani RBI single to give the Pios a 10-5 victory in Game One. Nickolas Portanova went 6 innings strong not allowing a run after the 1^st inning. He finished with a team-leading seven strikeouts on the afternoon in the win.

GAME TWO 

It was more of the same for the Pioneers in the day's second game. Brendan Clougher started the 1st inning action with a run scoring single and then it was Nicholas Sendrowski going full sender on a ball to left center to clear the bases for a 3 RBI double to give the good guys a 4-0 lead.

In the 2nd, it was Gabe Santarcangelo padding the lead with a RBI single to bring home Dylan Casani for the fifth run of game two. The Pioneers kept the runs coming with three more in the 3^rd on a Mike Marano RBI single as well as a Clougher RBI hot to make it 10-0 Pios.

The Redhawks added a run in the 5^th but once again it was National Player of the Week Mike Marano to send everyone home early with a RBI single to give Sacred Heart a run-rule victory to close out the sweep. 

UP NEXT 

The Pios will hit the road to face the URI Rams in Kingston, RI for a three game weekend series with first pitches on Saturday being at 10AM & 12PM and Sunday at 10AM.