New Rochelle, NY - The Iona College softball team returned stepped away from conference play to face Stony Brook in a doubleheader on Thursday in New Rochelle. The Gaels (8-25) and the Seawolves (20-16-1) were locked in a pitcher's duel before Stony Brook scored a pair for a 2-1 win. The Seawolves scored three early and held on for a 6-4 win in game two.

Becky Riccitelli and Alyssa Struzenberg battled throughout with each pitcher frustrating the opposition's bats. Riccitelli had eight strikeouts and allowed just one hit through five innings of work. Struzenberg countered with three strikeouts and got some help defensively. The Gaels threatened in the third inning as 3B Jessica Horvath singled and C Mel Gettins reached on a throwing error and successfully sacrificed Horvath. Riccitelli grounded out and pushed the runners into scoring position, but the Maroon & Gold couldn't push them across.

In the sixth inning, Stony Brook finally reached Riccitelli using a single, two successful sacrifice bunts, and a RBI triple to take a 1-0 lead. The Seawolves added another run in the top of the seventh to make it 2-0, but the Gaels weren't going quietly. In the bottom of the seventh, LF Courtney Christie, RF Laura Hackimer, and DP Paige Cauley each drew walks to load the bases. The Seawolves went to the bullpen and the very next batter, Horvath, drilled a RBI single to right to cut the lead in half. The bases were still loaded for Iona, but Stony Brook didn't let any more runs cross the plate as Iona fell 2-1. Riccitelli pitched a complete game with two runs, both earned, five hits, and eight strikeouts. Horvath went 2-for-3 and plated the lone Gaels' run.

In the nightcap, the Seawolves got on the scoreboard early with three runs on two hits and two errors to make it 3-0 after just a half inning. Stony Brook added another run in the top of the second to make it 4-0, but Iona cut at the lead. In the bottom of the fourth, the bases were loaded with Gaels as SS Amanda Glaser singled, Hackimer walked and starting pitcher Katie Jo Passero reached on an error. Horvath continued her strong day and drew a RBI walk and CF Erin Kyle followed with a RBI single to left to make it 4-2.

Stony Brook added a pair the next half inning to push the lead back to four runs, but again Iona came back. 2B Lolli Mills led-off and reached on an error and came around to score as Christie dropped a single into right that went under the glove of the fielder and rolled all the way fence and found Christie on third. Glaser reached on another Seawolves' error and was brought home on Horvath's second RBI of the game, third of the afternoon, and it was 6-4 Stony Brook. The pitchers took over as Iona reliever Amanda Berard surrendered just three hits and left the bases loaded in the sixth and Jacobs worked 1-2-3 sixth and seventh innings as Stony Brook again held on, 6-4. Berard tossed three innings in relief with six hits, two runs, one earned, and three strikeouts. Horvath was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Glaser was 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Hackimer drew two walks and scored twice, and Kyle went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Gaels returns to the field and conference play on Saturday, April 19 with a doubleheader on the road against Manhattan.