NEW ROCHELLE, NY- The Iona College softball team used a tremendous pitching and defensive effort and timely hitting in a sweep of Cornell and Rhode Island at the 2009 Rebel Spring Games. The Gaels topped the Big Red 3-1 in the opener and blanked the Rams 1-0 in the night cap.

Game 1:

The Pitching:
Rookie RHP Deanne Algeo limited the big bats of Cornell to just five hits over seven innings in the 3-1 victory in the day's first game. Her one blemish was a solo shot off the bat of 1B Ashley Garvey in the bottom of the sixth inning.   She picked up her first collegiate victory against the team that earned 40 victories last season and had won 11 of their first 15 games in 2009.

The Defense:
Helping Algeo along the way were two diving catches to end the fourth and sixth innings by rookie RF Melanie Hay. Her snag in the fourth stranded two runners as she dove to make the catch just outside the lip of the infield. She also saved an extra base hit going to her left in the sixth inning that stranded one runner and gave the Gaels the momentum they needed to hold off their opponent in the seventh.

The Timely Offense:
In the top of the third inning, freshman 3B Jaclyn Quinn executed a perfect squeeze bunt with runners on second and third base. Hay raced home from third and slid under the catcher's tag for the first run. Quinn then induced a run down between first and second that allowed rookie SS Rachelle Harris to scamper home. On the Big Red's attempt to get Quinn out at second, the first baseman threw the ball over the shortstop's head.

With one out in the fourth, the Maroon & Gold loaded the bases on three straight singles. Hay's hit dropped just behind second base and between the middle infielders. Initially, Algeo was called out for interfering with the shortstop. After an extensive discussion with Iona head coach Jaime Wohlbach and a conference between the umpires, the ruling was overturned and everyone was safe. Algeo scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Harris. The Cornell shortstop made a sliding stop and threw to third base to get the out in a play that slowed a potential big inning for the Gaels.

Game 2:

The Pitching:
Rookie RHP Sarah Jackson extended her scoreless streak to 15 innings with her second straight shutout in the 1-0 win over Rhode Island. Jackson scattered six hits and struck out five batters in the complete game effort. She improved to 3-0 on the Florida trip and has allowed just two runs in 21 innings of work (0.67 ERA).

The Defense:
Jackson helped herself in working her way out her only serious jam in the top of the second inning. With the bases loaded and two out, she snagged a hot shot right back at her to end the threat. Harris made a nifty play at shortstop with the Rams threatening in the final inning. With a runner on first and one out, RF Brittany Julich hit a hot shot up the middle that took a bad bounce. She made a leaping snare of the ball just to the left of second base, stepped on the bag an nearly turned a double play to end the contest.

The Timely Offense:
Iona got the only run it needed in the bottom of the first inning. For the fourth straight game, Harris got on base to lead off the contest. She hit a smash shot up the middle that could not be handled by the Ram second baseman. After stealing second, she was pushed across to third base by Quinn who did a great job hitting the ball to the right side to allow the advance.   Sophomore CF Erin Kyle did her job also, hitting a deep fly ball to centerfield to allow Harris to score on the sacrifice fly.

Hay recorded three hits in the two contests to lead the Gaels.   Harris and freshman LF/3B Chelsea Sheehan each had two hits while Algeo, and rookie 2B Kayla O'Neill and 1B Allyssa James also posted solo hits.

The Gaels have the day off tomorrow to regroup from their six games in three days.   They return to action on Thursday (Mar. 19) when they take on Green Bay and Lafayette at the Fortune Road Field Complex.