Kissimmee, FL - The Iona College Softball continued their week at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee with a pair on Monday against local rivals.  The Gaels (2-8) battled closely with Wagner, but the Seahawks (2-10) scored the final three runs for an 11-6 win.  Sarah Jackson had 16 Ks in a 5-0 shutout over Fairleigh Dickinson for the day split.

Iona took its only lead of the game in bottom of the first inning.  After back-to-back two-out hits by Erin Kyle and Melanie Gettins, Kayla O'Neill placed a double down the left-field line and brought in Kyle to make it 1-0 Iona.

The Seahawks responded with a six run, five hit top of the second inning, which included a three-run homerun off the bat of Andrea Lazzari, and it was 6-1.  Iona came right back with a big inning and drew with two runs.  A lead-off single by Courtney Christie and a muffed throw on a successful sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Sheehan put two on for the Gaels.  Two batters later, Rachelle Harris picked up her second RBI of the season with a single to center to push Christie across home and Sheehan advanced to third on the throw.  Jaclyn Quinn recorded her first collegiate RBI with a sacrifice fly that scored Sheehan and it was 6-3.  Kyle found her way around the bases thanks to back-to-back fielding errors and Harris touched home to make it 6-4.

The teams were both blanked in the third inning, but Wagner got another long ball off the bat of Lazzari.  This one was of the two-run variety and gave the Seahawks a 8-4 advantage.  Quinn and Kyle started the Gaels' half inning with back-to-back singles and passed ball put them both in scoring position at second and third.  Gettins put a single through the right side of the infield and plated them both and Iona was back within two runs at 8-6.

Wagner added two runs on a hit and error in the fifth inning and another run on an RBI double in the seventh to take the game 11-6.  O'Neill finished the game 3-for-4 with an RBI.  Christie also went 3-for-4 with her run scored.  Gettins finished 2-for-4 and Kyle also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.  Harris rounded out the Gaels strong performances going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.  Kassondra Silva pitched two innings with an earned run, a hit, two walks and strikeout.

Against the Knights (2-9), the game was scoreless through the first inning, but Iona again got on the scoreboard first.  O'Neill led-off the top of the second with a single and advanced to second on a fielding error as Sarah Jackson reached on fielder's choice.  After a Christie sacrifice bunt, Sheehen picked up her second sac fly on the day and plated O'Neill to give the Maroon & Gold a 1-0 lead.

The lead held as Jackson, who was named MAAC Pitcher of the Week earlier in the day, struck out 11 batters through five innings and allowed just two runners to reach base.  The Gaels padded the lead in the sixth inning with three hits including a RBI single by Sheehan and a Christie sacrifice fly that led to three runs and it was 4-0 Iona. 

Jackson added two more strikeouts in the sixth to keep Fairleigh Dickison off the scoreboard.  Iona's final run came in the top of the seventh as after Harris and Quinn each picked up singles, Kyle put down a successful sacrifice bunt to put them in scoring position.  Gettins grounded out, but grabbed an RBI as Harris crossed the plate to make it 5-0 and give the Gaels a 'W'. 

Jackson pitched a complete game three-hit shutout with just two walks and new career-high 16 strikeouts, which is believe to be a school record.  Former Gael Becky Riccitelli held the previous records as she had 15 against Quinnipiac on Mar 06, 2005 and 14 against Saint Louis last season in Florida.  Harris went 3-for-3 on the afternoon. 

The Gaels continue the Rebel Spring Games on Tuesday against Cornell (11 am) and Rhode Island (1 pm).