New York, NY - The Iona College softball team went out of conference to play a doubleheader against Columbia.  The Gaels (9-30, 3-7 MAAC) fell behind early and couldn't recover falling 8-1 in the opener. Iona had a lead in game two, but the Lions (15-29, 3-13 Ivy) scored the next five in a 5-3 win.

Columbia plated four runs on five hits in the bottom of the first inning and added a run in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Iona got on the scoreboard in the third inning as 2B Paige Cauley singled, DP Erin Kyle reached on an error and C Mel Gettins singled to load the bases. 3B Jess Horvath plated Cauley with a hard hit ball in the infield. Horvath went 2-for-3 on the afternoon and reached base three times. The Gaels got a good relief effort from P Kelsey Griffin, who threw four innings with two earned, five hits, and three strikeouts.

In game two, starter Katie Jo Passero stranded four Lions and allowed just one hit in the first two innings. The Maroon & Gold tried to give her some run support in the third inning. Cauley dropped a single into right field and then stole second base. The next batter, Kyle, pushed Cauley to third with an infield single and Gettins plated her on a single up the middle to make it 1-0 Iona. Columbia tied the game in the bottom of the inning and added a pair in the fourth and the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.

The Gaels chipped away at the lead in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Cauley picked up a pair of RBIs plating SS Amanda Glaser, who reached on a fielder's choice, and reliever Kelsey Griffin, who reached on single. The Gaels got it as close as 5-3, but couldn't push closer. Passero finished with three earned on eight hits in four innings of work. Cauley and CF Courtney Christie each went 2-for-3 and Gettins was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Iona returns to conference play with a doubleheader against St. Peter's at Rice Oval on Saturday, April 26. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.