Bronx, NY - The Iona College softball team made the short trip to the Bronx to play Fordham in a make-up of a rained out double-header on March 4. The Gaels and Rams combined for nine hits and three runs in the opener with Fordham scoring late for a 2-1 win. In game two, the Rams score nine runs on nine hits in a 9-1 win. Erin Kyle went 3-for-5 on the afternoon.
In the opener, the Rams (12-17) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a solo homerun. The lead held as the Gaels (6-16) couldn't time starting pitcher Allison Twarowski, who allowed just two hits in the first four innings, both coming off the bat of Erin Kyle. Kyle reached on a single in the first inning, but was caught stealing and in the fourth, she was sacrificed to second base, but left stranded.
The Maroon and Gold finally reached Twarowski in the top of the seventh with Jessica Horvath and Lolli Mills putting back-to-back singles into left field. The Rams went to the bullpen and after a wild pitch advanced the runners into scoring position, Courtney Christie dropped an RBI single into centerfield to tie the game at 1-1. Fordham used three consecutive hits in the bottom of the seventh to take a 2-1 win. Kyle went 2-for-2 and also reached on a walk. Becky Riccitelli pitched the entire game and allowed just four hits, two runs, both earned, and added seven strikeouts in the loss.
The second game saw strong performances early on from the two starting pitchers, Iona's Katie Jo Passero and Fordham's Nicole Ayers. Passero surrendered two hits and stranded three in the first three innings. On the other side, Ayers set down the first nine batters she faced and it appeared it would be a pitcher's duel and another close game. The Gaels broke through first as Kyle picked up her third hit on the afternoon with a lead-off single in the fourth. She advanced to second on a Melanie Gettins groundout. Jessica Horvath came to the plate and struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch and the Rams' catcher tried to catch Kyle moving to third, but the ball rolled into left and it was 1-0 Iona. Lolli Mills singled to put runners on the corners for Iona, but was left stranded.
Fordham responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs and took a 3-1 advantage. The Rams plated another pair of runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-1 lead and the Gaels' bats couldn't respond against Ayers, who finished with eight strikeouts and just two hits allowed. The Rams put the game out of reach on an Allison Storc grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning as Iona fell 9-1.
The Gaels are back in action on Tuesday, April 2 as they travel up to Albany to face the Great Danes for a double-header beginning at 2:30 pm. The Gaels open the MAAC season and their new home field, Rice Oval, on Sunday, April 6 against Siena at 1:00 pm. More information to follow.
