KISSIMMEE, FL - The Iona College Softball team entered Thursday competition at the Rebel Spring Games after a day off. The Gaels ran into a strong pitching performance and fell 6-1 to Green Bay. In game two, Erin Kyle was nearly perfect at the bat for Iona and Sarah Jackson struck out eight in a 5-3 win over Lafayette.
Green Bay (13-7) starter, Katie Cooney frustrated Iona's bats as she pitched a complete game four-hitter and allowed one earned run and struck out nine. After a scoreless first two innings, The Phoenix broke through with a 2 RBI single by Katie Cooney in the top of the third inning. Green Bay added three more runs off Cooney's bat in the fifth inning with a 3-run shot to left center and it was 5-0 Green Bay.
The Gaels (5-10) lone run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Melanie Hay, who finished 1-for-2 for the game, dropped a double into left center field to lead off the inning. A wild pitch moved her to third and two batters later on a Jaclyn Quinn ground-out, Hay crossed the plate. The Phoenix added another run in the top of the seventh. Deanne Algeo took the loss for Iona.
In the game two, the Maroon & Gold were again locked in a scoreless tie through the first two innings with Iona picking up the only hit and baserunner. The deadlock was broken in the top of the third as Kyle got the Gaels going quickly. Hay drove a one-out single up the middle and then proceeded to swipe second. Two batters later, Quinn drew a two-out walk and then stepped up Kyle, who drilled a pitch over the left-field wall for a 3-run shot and it was 3-0 Iona.
The Leopards (1-10) clawed a run back in the home half inning, but the Gaels came right back with a run of their own in the top of the fourth. Jackson, who finished 2-for-3 at the plate, put a single into centerfield and was pinch-run for by Tierney Markou. Courtney Christie executed a successful sac-bunt to put Markou on second, but a wild pitch advanced her to third with just one out. Chelsea Sheehan laid a bunt single down the third baseline and Markou hurried down the line to score and give Iona back the three run cushion.
Jackson, who was also performing strong on the mound for Iona, had a four-hitter going through six innings. In both the fifth and sixth innings, Jackson found herself with bases loaded, but was able to pitch out of it and leave the bags full. Offensively, the Maroon & Gold added its final run as they put together three straight hits. Kyle picked up her second hit on the afternoon with a single to left field followed by a Melanie Gettins double into right-center. Kayla O'Neill picked up her fourth RBI of the Rebel Spring Games as she plated Kyle on a single to right and it was 5-1 Gaels. Lafayette added a pair in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't complete the comeback as Iona took the 5-3 win.
Jackson pitched a complete game with three runs, none earned, six hits, eight strikeouts and just a pair of walks. Kyle finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Iona returns to the field on Friday and closes out their week at the Rebel Spring Games. The Gaels face Brown at 3 pm and Colgate at 5 pm.
