South Orange, NJ - Coming off a road-trip with ten games in six days, the Iona College softball team returned to the tri-state area for a double-header with Seton Hall University. The Pirates used a two-run third inning to surge in game 1, but the Gaels took the nightcap 7-5 with a four-run sixth and a strong performance on the hill by Katie Jo Passero.

Iona (6-14) took an early 1-0 lead thanks to aggressiveness on the base paths. Erin Kyle singled then proceeded to steal second and came around to score on a Melanie Gettins RBI single to right-center. The Pirates (9-12) picked up a pair of runs on two RBI doubles and it was 2-1 Seton Hall at the end of three innings. After a scoreless fourth inning, starting pitcher Becky Riccitelli helped her own cause and tied the game at 2-2 by plating Gettins, who drew a walk along with teammate Jessica Horvath. Seton Hall though broke the tie as Daria Glynos hit a solo homer to lead off the top of the seventh and propel the Pirates to a 3-2 win. Kyle and Gettins each finished the game going 1-for-3 with a hit and a run and Gettins picked up an RBI in the loss.

The Maroon and Gold used a three-run first inning in the second game to build some momentum. With two on and two outs, Becky Riccitelli drilled one to deep left-field for her first round-tripper of the season. The Pirates cut the lead and eventually tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the first, third and fifth. Iona opened the game up with another big inning in the top of the sixth. With the bases full of Gaels, Gettins notched her sixth RBI of the season scoring Courtney Christie with a single. Lolli Mills followed two batters later with a RBI as she was hit-by-pitch with bases still loaded and it was 5-3 Iona. Riccitelli continued her amazing day as another hard hit ball found her standing on first base with two runs across the plate and the Gaels with a 7-3 lead. Riccitelli finished the day 2-for-2 with two hits, two walks, a run and five RBIs.

Seton Hall drew closer with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the bottom of the sixth inning, but starter Katie Jo Passero left a pair stranded to get out of the inning. Passero pitched six innings of seven hit ball with five runs, just one earned, two walks and seven strikeouts. Riccitelli, who dominated at the plate for the Gaels, came on to close the game in the bottom of the seventh. She struck out the first batter she faced and though she walked the next batter, Riccitelli got the Pirates to ground into a game-ending double play and the Gaels were victorious 7-5.

Iona will take on another local rival as it heads to the Bronx to face Fordham on Friday, March 28 for a double-header beginning at 2:30 pm. This is a double-header that was rescheduled from March 4.