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Sacred Heart 12, Iona College 7 (Mar 28, 2012 at Bridgeport, CT)

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Iona College…….. 000 030 400 – 7 13 2 (9-15)

Sacred Heart…….. 100 254 00X – 12 13 4 (8-13)

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Pitchers: Iona College – Parisi, Vinny; Henry, Hugh(5); Bianchi, Stephen(6); Leon, Conan(6);

Gilruth, Jordan(7); Kriss, Tom(8) and Menickella, Sean. Sacred Heart – MORRISEY, Nick;

MAGOON, Kevin(4); WERTZ, Dan(6); NEWHALL, Nate(7); STODDARD, Jeff(8) and PEREZ, Dan.

Win-MAGOON, Kevin(1-0) Loss-Henry, Hugh(0-1) T-2:35 A-103

HR ION – Torres, Joe (1).

Weather: Clear, 58 degrees

Bianchi faced 2 batters in the 6th.

Wednesday was a beautiful day for baseball...after the rain. photo courtesy of the spectrum

The Sacred Heart University baseball team defeated Iona College, 12-7, in a midweek tune-up on Wednesday at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.

The Sacred Heart Pioneers got 4 RBIs from junior Troy Scribner and only one of their five pitchers gave up an earned run, as they downed the Iona Gaels in front of 103 on a surprisingly sunny afternoon.

“I thought it was a good day,” said Sacred Heart head coach Nick Giaquinto. “We had some guys get some opportunities they usually don’t. Experience is so important. To have an opportunity to get some guys experience will definitely help us down the stretch.”

For Sacred Heart (8-13, 6-2 Northeast Conference), much of that experience was gained on the mound.

Freshman Nick Morrissey made his first collegiate start, junior Kevin Magoon (1-0) earned his first collegiate win, and freshman Dan Wertz and sophomore Nate Newhall made just their second appearance of the season.

Kevin Magoon earned his 1st collegiate W. photo courtesy of sacred heart university athletics

At the plate, freshman Billy McDonough, filling in at second for last minute scratch Hunter Phillips, made his first collegiate start; collecting a hit, a walk, and a run scored.

The Pioneers started the scoring in the first when sophomore left fielder Connor McEvoy plated McDonough on a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

Both teams remained quiet until Sacred Heart struck twice in the fourth with a Scribner sac fly and a two out RBI single from freshman designated hitter Matt Charmello, making it 3-0.

Iona (9-15, 2-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) would tie it the next half inning with three off Magoon, in his second inning of relief.

However, the Pioneers responded with five in the fifth and four in the sixth, putting the game out of reach.

In the fifth, the wheels fell apart for the Gaels and losing pitcher, senior Hugh Henry (0-1). Two straight errors scored the first run of the inning and a wild pitch brought home the second. A RBI double by freshman Kenny Byram, a RBI groundout from Scribner, and another RBI single from Charmello capped the five run inning and gave Sacred Heart a 8-3 lead. All of the runs were unearned.

The four run sixth was highlighted by a two RBI double off the bat of Scribner.

Troy Scribner: SHU baseball's Renaissance Man. photo courtesy of sacred heart university athletics

Although Scribner, who started the game at first and later moved to third, is the Pioneer ace, he has lately been used as a glorified utility man. Scribner has started the last four Sacred Heart games in the field and six for the season. At the dish, the 6-1 righty from Washington Depot, Conn. is batting .320.

“I’m having a blast,” said Scribner. “I haven’t had this much fun playing baseball since high school. It’s great playing and hitting. I’ve missed it so much the last two years. It’s good to get back into it.”

Iona tried to get back into it with four runs in the seventh off Newhall, but Sacred Heart freshman Jeff Stoddard would hold them scoreless the final two innings. Sophomore center fielder Joe Torres homered for the Gaels and senior shortstop Eric Capowski drove in two and added two hits.

The Pioneers return to action Friday when they begin a four game weekend set with conference opponent Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J. Currently, Sacred Heart is second in the NEC standings behind Bryant University. Fairleigh Dickinson (8-11-1, 4-4) is sixth.

Next Stop: FDU's Naimoli Family Baseball Complex. photo courtesy of fairleigh dickinson university athletics

“We’re excited about it,” said Giaquinto, “we always get excited about the weekends. Last weekend, we played a little bit better and a little more consistently. Although we won four [games], it still wasn’t our best baseball. I think our best baseball is in front of us and, hopefully, it’s this weekend.”

Friday’s first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. and Scribner will toe the slab.

“Friday,” said Scribner, “we got to go and get the first win. The first win is the most important, as usual. [Fairleigh Dickinson] is not a slouch team. I just got to go out and throw my game like I have been.”

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The Short…

Rhode Island squeezed past the Sacred Heart University baseball team with two ninth inning runs on Wednesday, for a 7-5 victory.

The nonconference tune-up, a chance for both squads to rest some starters and juggle lineups, featured 13 pitchers.

After four lead changes, Sacred Heart tied it at 5 in the eighth on an error. Pioneer senior Chris Dionisio blew the game in the ninth, and got the loss, when his fourth wild pitch of the day sent home the winning run.

Sacred Heart junior shortstop John Murphy filled the stat sheet, including with two stolen bases, making him a perfect 7-7 for the season.

“It’s a big factor,” said Murphy of his speed. “Last year, I wasn’t as fast. I worked hard in the summer. Just being on first base is a threat and the defense has to be on their toes.”

…And the Long of It

The University of Rhode Island squeezed past the Sacred Heart University baseball team with two ninth inning runs on Wednesday, for a 7-5 victory in front of 87 at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.

“Any time we lose,” said Sacred Heart head coach Nick Giaquinto, “we’re disappointed. But, these weekday games are interesting for both teams because nobody is really 100 percent full. I thought both teams really competed and they just came up with the big hits late.”

The nonconference tune-up, a chance for both squads to rest some starters and juggle lineups, featured 13 pitchers, eight for Rhode Island (7-11, 0-0 Atlantic 10), and Sacred Heart (3-13, 2-2 Northeast Conference) junior ace Troy Scribner at third base.

The Rhode Island Rams began the scoring in the first off Sacred Heart Pioneer freshman starter Jeff Stoddard, who remains winless in three collegiate starts. With two outs and a man on third, Sacred Heart junior first baseman Dave Boisture, normally an outfielder, booted an easy groundball allowing junior leadoff man Chris Famiglietti to score.

Famiglietti, Rhode Island’s left fielder and leading hitter, filled the stat sheet with three hits, three runs, and three stolen bases.

Sacred Heart quickly got the run back in the bottom half of the inning when Rams’ sophomore starter Kevin Lee walked sophomore catcher Dan Perez with the bases loaded, forcing in junior shortstop John Murphy, who started the two out rally with a walk.

Murphy, who leads the Pioneers in runs, triples, and stolen bases; was the highlight of the overcast afternoon for Sacred Heart. He drove in a run, scored three, walked twice, and played tremendous defense. However, it was his wheels on showcase Wednesday. In addition to a triple, Murphy stole two bases, making him a perfect 7-7 for the season.

You have to don the tools of ignorance if you think you can throw John Murphy out. Photo courtesy of Sacred Heart Athletics.

“It’s a big factor,” said Murphy of his speed. “Last year, I wasn’t as fast. I worked hard in the summer. Just being on first base is a threat and the defense has to be on their toes.”

The Pioneers took a 3-1 lead in the third off the first Rhode Island reliever, sophomore Liam O’Sullivan, when Murphy hit the RBI triple and Perez plated him with a double.

The Rams tied it in the next half inning off Stoddard’s replacement, freshman Nick Morrissey, with a RBI single by junior second baseman Pat Fortunato and a RBI single by freshman shortstop Tim Caputo.

Rhode Island’s next pitcher, junior Bobby Dean, coughed up the lead in the fifth on a Boisture RBI single; after Sacred Heart’s next pitcher, junior Liam Rafferty, pitched a scoreless top half.

The Rams took a 5-4 lead in the seventh off the fourth Pioneer pitcher, junior Kevin Magoon, when Famiglietti hit a RBI triple and sophomore center fielder Jeff Roy plated him with a groundball to second.

Sacred Heart came back once again, this time in the eighth. After a scoreless inning from junior reliever Sean Furney, Rhode Island freshman righty Brendan Doonan gave up a leadoff single to sophomore left fielder Connor McEvoy. Giaquinto went to his bench, sending in junior speedster Jonathan Servilla to pinch run and Rams skipper Jim Foster went to his pen, calling upon junior lefty Rob Curran. After a Boisture bunt single, Perez laid down a bunt and the throw went to third. Rhode Island third baseman, senior Dan Haverstick, dropped the potential force and Servilla scored to tie it at 5. Foster brought in sophomore Joe Landi to get the bottom of the Pioneer order for the final outs, ending the threat.

The bottom three of the Sacred Heart order – freshman Matt Charmello, senior Rocco Gondek, and freshman Kenny Byram – went a combined 0-12, helping to strand 7 Pioneer base runners.

Senior reliever Chris Dionisio, in his second inning of work, would fall to 0-1 after blowing the game for the Pioneers in the ninth.

A stolen base, sandwiched between two leadoff singles, put runners on first and third for the Rams. Dionisio’s fourth wild pitch of the day sent the runner on third home with the winning run, and a sac fly ended the scoring at 7-5, in favor of Rhode Island.

Despite giving up seven runs and nine hits, Giaquinto was happy with the combined effort of his hurlers.

“I thought all the guys did a nice job,” said Giaquinto. “There was a little inconsistency, but there were some good signs. Everybody showed some good stuff. A lot of these guys haven’t thrown for a little while or don’t have too many innings under their belt. I thought they all responded well.”

Junior closer Mike Bradstreet notched his fifth save for the Rams with a scoreless ninth, giving Landi his first win of the season and sending Rhode Island back home to Kingston to begin their A10 schedule.

Sacred Heart’s next weekday tune-up will come against Iona College of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on March 28 at Harbor Yard.

The Pioneers get back to NEC action on Friday when Mount St. Mary’s University comes to Harbor Yard to begin a four game weekend series. Friday’s first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. and a doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday, with the series finale coming on Sunday.

In the nine-team NEC, Sacred Heart is tied for fourth place with Central Connecticut State University and Mount St. Mary’s is last at 0-4.

“They’re going to give us a battle,” said Murphy, “they always do. We’re just going to play as hard as we can and see what we can do.”

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2012 NEC Baseball Standings including contests through 3/20/2012

The Sacred Heart University baseball team finished their four-game weekend series against in-state/Northeast Conference rival Central Connecticut State University at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport with a split in Saturday’s doubleheader and a loss in Sunday’s finale.

Following Friday’s 9-0 win, Sacred Heart (3-12, 2-2 NEC) rode the left arm of sophomore starter Nick Leiningen to an 8-3 Game 1 victory.

Nick Leiningen's complete game effort gave SHU a 2-0 series lead.

Leiningen, last year’s NEC Rookie of the Year, threw a complete game, allowing four hits and two earned runs over seven innings for his first win of the season.

“That’s what [Leiningen’s] been doing since the beginning of last season,” said Sacred Heart head coach Nick Giaquinto, “keeping guys off balance. He’s been a heck of a pitcher for us.”

Leiningen was supported by eight Pioneer runs, coming in three multiple-run innings.

Sacred Heart opened the scoring with a three-run bottom of the first off Central Connecticut (6-7, 2-2) freshman starter Cody Brown. The leadoff man, senior second baseman Hunter Phillips, singled to center. With one out, junior shortstop John Murphy was hit by a pitch and sophomore left fielder Connor McEvoy singled, loading the bases. Senior first baseman Rob Griffith hit a sac fly to center, scoring Phillips, and sophomore designated hitter Dan Perez walked to load the bases again. The next batter, freshman third baseman Kenny Byram, singled up the middle for two RBIs and a 3-0 Pioneer lead.

Sacred Heart struck again in the third when Griffith reached on an error by Blue Devil sophomore shortstop Anthony Turgeon, stole second, and advanced to third on a Brown balk. Perez singled Griffith home and scored two batters later on an error by Central Connecticut junior first baseman Mike Washburn, giving the Pioneers a 5-0 advantage.

The Blue Devils would get their only runs off Leiningen in the next half inning. After a single and a double, Turgeon brought home the first Blue Devil run with a sac fly. The second run came across on a Phillips error and Leiningen promptly walked the next two batters, two of his three free passes on the day, loading the bases. Central Connecticut sophomore second baseman Josh Ingham plated the third run with a sac fly, cutting the deficit to two runs. Leiningen escaped further damage with a ground ball and, like his counterpart Brown, would cruise the rest of the way.

Sacred Heart would add three runs in the sixth off Central Connecticut sophomore relief pitcher Tom Coughlin with a RBI single by McEvoy and a two-RBI single off the bat of freshman Matt Charmello, putting the game out of reach.

As it happens in baseball, Game 2 of Saturday’s double dip would be quite different.

Phillips, Murphy, Griffith, Byram, and senior catcher Rocco Gondek would all make errors – leading to six unearned runs and a 7-0 defeat.

Sophomore righty Robbie Maguire got the start for the Pioneers, going 4.2 innings and only yielding two hits. However, shoddy defense and four walks resulted in Maguire giving up five runs; one earned, and kept him searching for his first win of the season.

The bats were quieted by Blue Devil junior starter Jack Greenhouse, who went the distance while allowing just six base runners. Freshman center fielder Keaton Flint reached twice for Sacred Heart, with a single and a walk.

“The first game [on Saturday] we came out swinging,” said Griffith, who leads the team with two home runs and 10 RBI. “The confidence was there and we felt good. In the second game, [Greenhouse] kept us guessing and on our front foot. He pitched well.”

Senior 1B Rob Griffith is back from injury and already has 10 RBI.

Looking to secure the season series, Sacred Heart took the field in front of 180 on a sunny day in Bridgeport, but fell 7-4.

Central Connecticut struck first off Pioneer sophomore starter Kody Kerski. In the second, with runners on second and third and one out, Kerski threw a wild pitch past sophomore catcher Derick Horn for the game’s first run. Two batters later, Blue Devil senior catcher A.J. Lowers hit a RBI single past Byram for a 2-0 Central Connecticut advantage.

The Blue Devils extended their lead in the third when sophomore right fielder J.P. Sportman hit a solo shot to left and added two more in the fourth with a Lowers RBI double and an Ingham RBI single, giving Central Connecticut a 5-0 lead.

The Pioneers would cut the lead by two in the bottom half of the fourth when Horn plated Griffith and McEvoy, who led off the inning with singles, with a two out, two RBI double to center.

After the seventh inning stretch, Sacred Heart reduced the Central Connecticut lead to 5-3. Murphy led off the inning with a double and Griffith singled him to third. Blue Devil skipper Charlie Hickey yanked freshman reliever Brendyn Karinchak, who would notch his first college victory in the game, and brought in Ingham from second to pitch. McEvoy reached on a Turgeon error, scoring Murphy, and junior right fielder Dave Boisture singled, loading the bases down by two with no outs.

Giaquinto went to his bench, sending Perez to pinch hit for Byram. Perez struck out on three pitches and Horn followed by hitting into a double play, ending the threat and leaving two on base.

The Pioneers stranded 13 runners on the afternoon, as they fell short by three.

13 LOB doomed the Pioneers.

“It was the deciding factor,” said Giaquinto of the baker’s dozen left on base. “The good news is we had a lot of guys on. What our chore is now, is to figure out how to get them in.”

Central Connecticut added one in the eighth when Lowers, who had three hits and three RBI on the day, hit a run scoring single off Sacred Heart junior reliever Liam Rafferty. Blue Devil junior first baseman Tyler McIntyre touched Rafferty up in the next inning with a solo jack to right for his second home run of the year and a 7-3 lead.

Although Rafferty, Kerski, who fell to 0-3, and junior John Hermanson each gave up runs, Pioneer pitching improved drastically in their return home. In the four games against Central Connecticut, Sacred Heart gave up 4.25 runs per game, a far cry from the 10.91 runs per game surrendered in the first 11 games.

“The pitchers competed all weekend,” said Giaquinto. “Everybody we threw out there left it on the field, so we’re happy about the way our staff has been competing. It’s another thing we can build on, but the pitching staff definitely has to be our strength.”

Pitching was a strength for the Blue Devils, as Ingham would earn his second save of the season with a three inning stint. He allowed one run in the ninth on a Griffith RBI single, but shut the door the rest of the way for a 7-4 win.

After missing four games due to injury, Griffith smacked four hits on the day and six in the series, raising his average to .294.

“I’m getting better,” said Griffith, who hit .400 in last year’s NCAA Tournament. “I’m doing rehab and working to keep healthy. It’s good to start swinging the bat.”

With the split, the Pioneers enter the NEC standings tied for fourth with Central Connecticut.

“We won the first two,” said Giaquinto, “so we’re disappointed, of course. But, Central’s a good team. Every weekend is a dog fight. Every weekend is a battle. You have to grind it out.”

The top four teams make the NEC Tournament, which Sacred Heart won last year, with the winner receiving an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament field of 64.

“Overall,” said Griffith, “I think the confidence is building up. We know we can hit, we know we can field and pitch. Once we’re firing on all cylinders, we’ll be unstoppable.”

Mount St. Mary’s University (5-13, 0-4), last place in the NEC, comes to Harbor Yard for a four game weekend set, starting on Friday with a 3 p.m. first pitch. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and Sunday’s matinee at 11 a.m.

“We’re going to just stick with the process,” said Giaquinto. “Defensively, we know what we have to do, just keep plugging away and working hard at it. And, these guys do work hard at it. Pitching wise, the rotation for the weekend will be pretty similar to what we got this weekend because all the guys did pretty well.”

Before that, though, the University of Rhode Island visits Harbor Yard for a nonconference matchup on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

The University of Rhode Island visits Harbor Yard for a nonconference test on Wednesday at 3:30 pm.

“Rhode Island is a very good team,” said Giaquinto. “We got to bring our best Wednesday. It will be a good test.”

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Baseball is back in Bridgeport. Photo courtesy of SHU.

For the defending Northeast Conference champions, this season hasn’t quite started the way last season ended.

Following a four-game sweep at New Mexico State University, where they were outscored 71-22 and just the opener went the full nine innings, Sacred Heart traveled to Florida for four games in Port Charlotte and three in Tampa.

The 2011 NEC Champions are back in action. Photo courtesy of SHU.

In Port Charlotte, the Pioneers lost to Xavier University, split with the University of Pittsburgh, and dropped the finale to Miami University. In Tampa, Sacred Heart suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the United States Military Academy.

Trading the sun of Florida for the late winter saturated gray of Connecticut, the Pioneers returned home looking to improve upon their 1-10 record and begin their NEC title defense.

On Friday, in front of 103 cold fans at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, the Sacred Heart University baseball team kicked off that campaign with an easy 9-0 win over in-state/NEC rival Central Connecticut State University for their second victory of the season.

“It’s definitely great to jump off to a good start,” said Sacred Heart head coach Nick Giaquinto. “Hopefully we can continue to play like we did today. We had quality at bats, pitchers threw strikes, and we fielded the ball cleanly.”

Sacred Heart head coach Nick Giaquinto instructs his squad at Harbor Yard. Photo courtesy of College Baseball 360.

Sacred Heart got seven impressive innings from junior starter Troy Scribner and an early offensive explosion to cool off Central Connecticut State, who came in riding a three-game win streak.

“It was crucial,” said Scribner, one of the top draft prospects in the NEC. “We needed this win under our belt because we have been struggling. We struggled in Florida and we needed a good win back up North. I knew it was up to me to start it off and I just went out there and did the job.”

For Scribner, that job included giving up five hits, only one for extra bases, and walking two while striking out eight. The righty’s nasty stuff earned him his first win of the season, after winning nine a year ago.

“Troy had a great pitching plan today,” said Giaquinto, in his 24^th year as skipper. “He did a heck of a job early, especially with his changeup; then, he introduced his breaking ball a little bit later. So, he kept them off balance and they really didn’t know what to expect. It’s all about just locating and that’s what Troy does so well. He can throw any pitch in any count.”

The Scribner line: 7 IP, 0 R, 8 K, 5 H, 1 BB. Photo courtesy of Orange and White.

Scribner’s seven, combined with scoreless innings from juniors John Hermanson and Liam Rafferty, held the Blue Devil bats in check – including sophomore right fielder J.P. Sportman, a .314 hitter with two hits on the afternoon – for the shutout.

“I went into the game thinking that I needed to save my stuff,” said Scribner. “In the past games, I wasted all my pitches right off the bat. I wanted to change it up and throw only my fastball and changeup for as long as I could and as soon as they started catching up to that, mix in my curveball. It worked really well today. I got them off balance and was keeping everything down. If I could go out there and pitch seven strong innings and give up no runs, I would do that every time. Sometimes it’s harder than others to accomplish that.”

After Scribner’s one-two-three top of the first, the Pioneers wasted no time at the dish. The first three batters – senior second baseman Hunter Phillips, junior right fielder Dave Boisture, and junior shortstop John Murphy – all singled and sophomore left fielder Connor McEvoy drove in Phillips with a sac fly to center for the game’s first run.

On the next pitch, senior first baseman Rob Griffith slaughtered a fastball from Central Connecticut State junior starter Todd Savatsky over the left field wall and beyond the netting hopelessly protecting Webster Bank Arena for a three-run shot, his team-leading second home run, and a 4-0 lead.

Senior 1B Rob Griffith delivered a monster shot on Friday. Photo courtesy of SHU.

“It was a bomb,” said Giaquinto. “[Griffith] is pretty dangerous. He’s been a great hitter for us.”

In the second, Sacred Heart sophomore catcher Derick Horn led off with a single and advanced to second on freshman centerfielder Keaton Flint’s sacrifice bunt to third. Phillips popped to second, but Boisture delivered a two-out RBI double for a 5-0 advantage.

Sacred Heart put the game out of reach in the third with a two-out rally. Sophomore designated hitter Dan Perez, the only Pioneer without a hit, was hit by Savatsky on a 1-2 pitch. Freshman third baseman Kenny Byram doubled Perez home for the sixth run and Horn walked. Flint hit a RBI single sending in Byram for the seventh run and Phillips scored Horn with a base knock, chasing Savatsky at 8-0.

“We’ve been working so hard on trying to string together a few hits,” said Scribner. “We’ve had runners on base all preseason and we could never get that last hit to get all the runners in. Today, we crushed the ball. We were really aggressive. It was good to see.”

The Pioneers took their first step in getting back to the NCAA Tournament. Photo courtesy of Orange and White.

Savatsky was spelled by senior Harry Glynne, who pitched wonderful in relief, allowing one run on one hit over the final five-and-a-third.

Sacred Heart tacked on the ninth run in the seventh when McEvoy doubled, moved to third on a Griffith groundout, and scored on a Perez groundout to second.

“Our guys work very hard,” said Giaquinto, “we take a lot of hacks. Although we were 1-10, we did have a few quality games where we were swinging it. It was good to get [Griffith and Murphy back from injury]. It seems like they didn’t miss a beat.”

Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut State wrap up their season series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and the finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games are at Harbor Yard.

Nick Leiningen gets the start in Game 1 on Saturday. Photo courtesy of SHU.

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Sun, Mar 18 2:30 PM ET

13 Sacred Heart

(0-0)

4 Georgia Tech

(0-0)

They say good things come to those who wait.

Well, on Selection Monday, the Sacred Heart University women’s basketball team had to wait until ESPN revealed the final bracket on their live selection show broadcast, as the Pioneers gathered in the William H. Pitt Center to watch and learn their NCAA Tournament fate.

“The same thing happened in ’09,” said head coach Ed Swanson, the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year. “We’re excited about our 13 seed. We got rewarded for the Northeast Conference’s RPI, which was 15. I was hoping to get maybe a 12 seed.”

Sacred Heart’s 13 seed takes them to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for a first round tango with Georgia Tech, the 4 seed in the Des Moines Regional.

“I think during the year you get caught up with your own team,” said Swanson, “and don’t follow much else of what is going on. You look at scores, but that is it. We will know more about them tomorrow morning when we start looking at film.”

Senior Callan Taylor knows a just a bit more than her coach.

“They lost in their tournament final,” said Taylor, the NEC Player of the Year. “The ACC is a great conference, so it will be a tough test.”

A tough test, indeed.

Ranked 15 in the nation, the Yellow Jackets finished the season 24-8 overall and 12-4 in the ACC. They dropped their final game, a three point loss to the country’s #5 team, Maryland, in the championship game of the ACC Tournament.

Georgia Tech is led by senior center Sasha Goodlett, a second team All-ACC selection. Goodlett and her 2012 senior class has a chance to set the school-record for wins by a 4-year class.

“We’re excited about the match up,” said Pioneer senior Alexis Campbell, one of three seniors on the team. “They are tough as far as we know. Anyone that makes the tournament is tough.”

Freshman Gabrielle Washington, the NEC Rookie of the Year, will benefit from the senior leadership of Campbell, Taylor, and Kris Iovino.

“I will look to the seniors,” said Washington, “because they have been there before. I will look to them for guidance and confidence.”

Being there before will allow Sacred Heart to draw upon their past experience.

“Our seniors have been there,” said Swanson, “we went out to Ohio State and gave them a tough game. We will be business like. We’re happy now and enjoying the festivities, but we will get a good night’s rest and come back tomorrow ready to go.”

Washington echoes her coach.

“I am excited and ready to play,” said Washington.

The team watched the selection show on the edges of their seats, reacting as every 12, 13, or 14 seed was called. The room began filled with tension but shifted to anxious chatter as 59 teams were called before the room erupted when “Sacred Heart” was called.

“There is a possibility we can win one of these games,” said Taylor. “We will have fun with it and try and come out with a win.”

The game will be broadcast on ESPN2/ESPN3.

Leave a comment and tell us who you think will win this 1st round matchup.

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The NEC Tournament and regular season champion Sacred Heart Pioneers. Photo courtesy of SHU.

For the third time in Sacred Heart women’s basketball history, the Pioneers are going dancin’.

On Sunday, Sacred Heart capped off their NEC Tournament run by defeating Monmouth University, 58-48, at the William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield.

“I couldn’t have been prouder of a group,” said Sacred Heart head coach Ed Swanson. “This team had to overcome a lot of hurdles. We worked hard. They bought-in and persevered through a lot of challenges that we threw at them – after losses, tough practices, benchings, and getting yelled at. They responded every time. That is the thing I will remember about them the most.”

Monmouth struck first when All-Tournament junior guard Alysha Womack, who garnered second team All-NEC honors this season, laid one in. The Pioneers, though, would hold Womack to 13 points and cause her to commit a game high six turnovers. Sacred Heart forced 22 turnovers in the game, leading to 21 points and 11 fast break points.

SHU's sixth man on Sunday.

The lead would change hands five times until Pioneer senior guard Alexis Campbell hit a jumper with 16:41 left, giving Sacred Heart a 7-6 lead.

Campbell, who provides senior leadership off the court, made sure her presence was felt on the court in her final games on campus. In the tournament, Campbell set single game career highs in minutes, threes, and field goals and tied career highs in points in rebounds.

“I just feed off my team,” said Campbell. “Emotionally, I did not want it to end. I think my team pushed me to do that and that is how the tournament went. We all feed off of one another.”

Campbell’s hoop sent Sacred Heart on an eight minute, 21-4 run, with freshman guard Gabrielle Washington providing the exclamation point with a jump shot, giving the Pioneers a 28-10 advantage, their largest of the game. Washington, the NEC Rookie of the Year, finished the game with 13 points.

NEC Rookie of the Year Gabrielle Washinigton (right) shares a golden moment with teammate Alexis Campbell (left). For the senior Campbell, it was her last game at home.

A layup by Monmouth junior forward Abby Martin, who made the All-Tournament team, cut the Sacred Heart lead by two. But, Sacred Heart senior forward Callan Taylor connected on two free throws, giving the Pioneers another 18 point lead with 4:06 left in the half.

Taylor, like Campbell, was determined to end her voyage in red and white on a high note.

“I can’t really believe it,” said Taylor. “It is the best way to end your career. I can’t ask for a better way to leave Sacred Heart. We worked really hard and we deserved to win this tournament.”

For Taylor, that career has seen her become one of the best to ever don a Pioneer uniform, amassing a long list of accomplishments, including the 2012 NEC Player of the Year.

After Taylor’s second free throw, though, the Pioneers turned ice cold, going scoreless for the rest of the half and 0-14 from the field. During that stretch, Monmouth ripped off an 8-0 run, cutting Sacred Heart’s lead to 30-20 at the break.

The Pioneers started the second frame strong, notching the first five points, three coming from sophomore guard Ericka Norman.

Norman, who only logged six minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, finished the contest with a game high 18 points and six steals. The conference leader in assists – she is also 14^th in the country – averaged seven per game in the tournament; as well as 4.3 steals, 10.3 points, and 4.3 rebounds.

“I felt my role on this team was to get assists,” said Norman, “but it wasn’t. I need to step up. I can’t wait for [Washington] or [Taylor] to score points and just get assists. I know I have the ability to drive and get points. I’ve held myself back before. Today, I felt like there was nothing to lose and I might as well leave it all out on the court.”

What Norman didn’t leave out on the court was the hardware she took home. In addition to being named to the All-Tournament team, Norman was named the tournament MVP.

NEC Tournament MVP Ericka Norman. Photo courtesy of SHU.

Despite the effort of Norman, the Hawks would again fire off a run, this time a 17-2 run, ending with Monmouth tying the game at 37 midway through the second.

Like they’ve done countless times in the last four years, Sacred Heart called upon their best player to step up.

Washington hit Taylor with a pass in the left corner and Taylor let it rip. With all 6-3 of the defender in her face, Taylor nailed the triple, giving the Pioneers a 40-37 lead.

“I thought [Taylor] stepped up and hit a big three when we were tied,” said Swanson, the NEC Coach of the Year. “That loosens us up a little bit. After that you saw more of a hop in our step. A game like that is a game of momentum, and there are plays where you have to seize the moment. When [Taylor] hit that three, that was so big for us.”

Monmouth would not get closer than three the rest of the way, as the Pioneers extended their lead to 10 and posted a 58-48 victory.

“It was a total team effort today,” said Taylor. “Everyone stepped up. Everyone filled their roles offensively and defense was such a big key today.”

As time was running out, Norman grabbed the game’s final rebound and handed the ball to an eager Washington. The freshman launched the ball towards the rafters with 3.8 seconds remaining, prompting the officials to call a Sacred Heart turnover and delay the fast-approaching celebration.

“I was just so excited,” said Washington. “I didn’t know how many seconds were left. I just wanted to throw up the ball.”

However, Washington’s over anxiousness gave Swanson the chance to make two final substitutions. Acting quickly, Swanson removed Campbell and Taylor from the game. For the final time, the two seniors walked off the floor of the Pitt Center to a standing ovation from the Sacred Heart community and into the outstretched arms of their head coach.

NEC Coach of the Year Ed Swanson hugs NEC Player of the Year Callan Taylor as she walks off the floor of the Pitt Center for the final time.

“I couldn’t be happier for my three seniors,” said Swanson. “They are tremendous leaders.”

Although Kris Iovino, the team’s third senior, only logged two minutes in the tournament and 5.8 minutes per game in the regular season, her lead-by-example role is admired by her teammates. This was on display at center court when Washington handed her the championship trophy. Iovino, surrounded by her teammates, cradled it with both hands and triumphantly raised the golden basketball above her head as the confetti fell and the students rushed the court.

Those students contributed to the 1,344 in attendance, the third largest crowd in Sacred Heart women’s basketball history, who made their presence felt.

“The whole playoff atmosphere was great,” said Swanson. “Last Saturday [against Fairleigh Dickinson], I thought the fans propelled us to that victory, the same with Tuesday’s victory over Robert Morris. We have exceptional spirit groups. The band, Dance Team, and cheerleaders did an exceptional job; not just during the tournament, but all year. It was nice to see that the place was full and lively. We feed off of their energy.”

The team echoed their coach’s sentiments.

“It was just an exciting atmosphere,” said Taylor. “I forgot just how exciting it is. It was a great showing and a great feeling to have that support.”

SHU students storm the court and mob their Pioneers.

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The Sacred Heart University women’s basketball team came 40 minutes closer to an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament, Tuesday night, by disposing of Robert Morris University, 61-56, in the semifinals of the Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament in front of a loud 571 at the William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield.

“Congratulations to Sacred Heart,” said Robert Morris head coach Sal Buscaglia, who was denied his fourth trip to the Big Dance. “They earned the home court advantage and I certainly think that was a key difference in this ballgame. Sacred Heart has a big advantage because they’re playing here. The environment, the acoustics – you can’t hear yourself think. That really works to their advantage.”

From the tip, The Sacred Heart University Pioneers were in control early, grabbing a 7-2 lead, with five coming from sophomore guard Ericka Norman – who filled the stat sheet with 11 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, three blocks, and a steal in 37 minutes.

The Robert Morris University Colonials would take a four point lead, their largest of the game, four minutes later when feisty 5-3 junior guard Briannica Tye, who played all 40 minutes, laid one in.

However, midway through the first, Sacred Heart senior forward Callan Taylor drilled a three, breaking a 13-13 tie and giving her squad a lead they would not relinquish. Taylor, 46^th in the nation in field goal percentage (49.9), picked her shots wisely, going 4-6 from the field and 2-2 from behind the arch and the charity stripe en route to 12 points and nine rebounds.

“Other people stepped up and hit big shots,” said Taylor. “[I] just try to go out there and do what I can control and just play hard.”

The teams were close the rest of the way and the Pioneers took a 25-20 halftime lead by holding Robert Morris under their season averages for field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, and free throw percentage.

Sacred Heart came out hot to start the second half, too.

Five minutes in, Pioneer freshman guard Gabrielle Washington got into the paint, juked left, losing the interior defender, and rolled one in with her left hand, giving her team a 33-24 lead their largest of the night. Washington, the NEC Rookie of the year, had a team-high 18 points.

In this, her second postseason game, Washington felt a bit more at ease, as much as the moment would muster.

“It’s still nerve-wracking,” said Washington. “It’s still a playoff game. It could end your season at any moment. But, I want to play and want to win and continue, so that’s always in the back of my mind.”

The Colonials were able to pull within one with 13:35 left, spurred by the outside game of junior guard Josette Campbell, but Sacred Heart junior forward Morgan Merriman extended the Pioneer lead with two free throws and Robert Morris failed to get that close again.

For the Colonials, Josette Campbell was their biggest weapon. Josette Campbell sunk six three’s, setting a career-high, and left Fairfield with a game-high 20 points.

Josette Campbell said the outcome came down to “who wanted it more, who had the heart. We knew what each other was about [and the outcome came down to] the little things, like rebounding and diving on the floor.”

For Sacred Heart, on the other hand, Merriman was a force down low. Playing in her 4^th career NEC Tournament game, Merriman grabbed five boards, scored seven points, and hit 3-4 free throws (all in the second half) in just 13 minutes off the bench.

“I was just good old Northeast Conference playoff basketball,” said Sacred Heart head coach Ed Swanson, this year’s NEC Coach of the Year, “a struggle to score in the beginning. I thought both teams were playing hard, the effort was there, shots weren’t falling. It’s really the intangibles – the toughness, the resilience – all that stuff really comes to the forefront. You can’t put a measure on the intangible things that these kids bring. That’s what really won the game for us tonight.”

Will Sacred Heart top Monmouth for the NEC Tournament title and an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament? Photo courtesy of the NEC.

Both team’s stars were held in check.

Although Taylor, the NEC Player of the Year, was kept below her season averages in points (17) and rebounds (9.8), fellow Pioneer senior Alexis Campbell picked up the slack. Alexis Campbell tied a career-high with 13 points, including one dagger from three (her third three of the year – they have all come in this year’s NEC Tournament), and pulled down 4 rebounds – also a career-high.

Alexis Campbell missed the first five games of the season with a torn ACL, but has battled back to lead her team to the NEC Championship Game, in this, her senior campaign.

“It’s been a journey,” said Alexis Campbell. “It’s been really great. This team really pushed me and I think that’s where my fight for getting back and wanting to play [comes from]. Just having them around was so contagious.”

The same cannot be said for Robert Morris.

Colonial sophomore forward Artemis Spanou, an All-NEC First Team selection, failed to reach her season averages in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, rebounds, or points. Spanou, the third leading scorer in the NEC with 17.3 points per game, was held scoreless in the first half and finished the game with nine points.

Top-seeded Sacred Heart will host third-seeded Monmouth University at the Pitt Center on Sunday, March 11 for the NEC Tournament championship and a seed in the Big Dance. On Tuesday, Monmouth ended Quinnipiac University’s season with a 69-66 win in Hamden. The Pioneers are looking to win their third NEC Tournament and Monmouth it’s second. Monmouth, led by All-NEC Second Team selection Alysha Womack, beat the Pioneers by 20 on Feb. 6 in West Long Branch, N.J. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPNU.

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Photo courtesy of NEC

The top-ranked Sacred Heart University women’s basketball team survived a first round scare from the eighth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights in the 2012 Northeast Conference Tournament.

At the William H. Pitt Center, located on Sacred Heart’s campus in Fairfield, the Pioneers started the game 8-12 from the field and led by as many as 11. However, a cold spell and inspired Knight defense help bridge the gap and cut the Pioneer lead to 31-28 at the break.

In the second, Sacred Heart was able to recover after coughing up the lead thanks to two seniors who were not ready to end their college basketball careers and a freshman who battled through early playoff jitters.

Fairleigh Dickinson, the worst shooting team in the NEC, took the lead midway through the final frame by shooting 42.3% for the half. They ran their advantage up to seven, but freshman Gabrielle Washington hit a loud three, sandwiched in between two clutch threes by senior Alexis Campbell (her first makes from behind the arc this season!), to pull the Pioneers within one with two minutes left.

Senior Alexis Campbell just isn't ready for her 4-year run to end. Photo courtesy of SHU.

“It’s so different,” said Washington, the NEC Rookie of the Year, about March Madness. “It was a little startling but, eventually, I got it out of my head.”

Fairleigh Dickinson’s Amanda Andrades turned it over on the ensuing possession and Sacred Heart head coach Ed Swanson called a timeout to draw one up for the NEC Player of the Year.

“The play was for me to come off a screen and get a shot,” said senior Callan Taylor, “but they were playing tough defense and were all over me. So I did something I normally don’t do and took it to the hoop.”

At the hoop, Taylor converted a left-handed layup to recapture the lead, this time for good, and send the Pioneers to the next round and end the Knights’ season, 62-58.

The best in conference, SHU senior Callan Taylor. Photo courtesy of SHU.

“This time of the year is survive and advance,” said Swanson, in his 22^nd year at the helm, “and we survived by the skin of our teeth today. Alexis Campbell came up and hit two big threes and Gabby Washington really got us going. We were in that rut for a little bit (but) the crowd really got behind us and I think that propelled us to the victory. Hard-fought, to say the least.”

In the NEC Tournament semifinals, Sacred Heart will host fourth-seeded Robert Morris, who disposed of fifth-seeded Saint Francis University in the quarterfinals. The Pioneers have beaten them twice this season.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6.