New Rochelle, NY - The Iona College Softball team entered Tuesday's double-header against
Seton Hall with 22 extra-base hits, five of those home runs. The Gaels
added five doubles and three more long balls in its sweep of the Pirates
with 6-5 and 7-5 victories.
After a scoreless first inning, the Pirates (15-19-1) used a long ball of their own, a two-run shot off the bat of Shannon Pease to right-center in the top of the second and it was 2-0 SHU. Seton Hall added another run in the top of the third on a Britt Schillizzi RBI double to make it 3-0. The Gaels bats were held quiet, but baserunners were a plenty in the bottom of the third as Chelsea Sheehan was hit-by-pitch and Melanie Hay walked. A successful sacrifice bunt by Harris pushed both runners into scoring position was followed by Erin Kyle taking one in the small of the back to load the bases. Rookie Kayla O'Neill took the opportunity and picked up her first career-high homerun with a grand slam to right-center and Iona went up 4-3.
Seton Hall added single runs in the fifth and sixth to take back the one-run advantage. Iona only needed two batters in the bottom of the seventh to put the game in the win column. Hay went up to get a high pitch and drilled it into the left-field corner and legged out a ground-rule double. After fouling off the first two pitches she faced, Rachelle Harris found one she liked and drilled it for the game-winner and was mobbed at home plate as Iona took the 6-5 win. The Gaels just registered three hits on the afternoon. Sarah Jackson picked up her sixth win of the season as she tossed a complete-game with five runs, all earned, on nine hits and fanned eight.
In the nightcap, Iona got on the scoreboard first with Kyle doubling to right-center and O'Neill picking up her fifth RBI of the day with a single to center. The lead held until the top of third as Schilizzi plated her second RBI of the day to tie the game at 1. The Gaels responded and broke the game open in the home half as Hay doubled to right-center and after Kyle drew a one-out walk, Hay was plated on an RBI ground-rule double off the bat of O'Neill. Melanie Gettins plated another Iona run with a RBI single to shallow center, but O'Neill was thrown out trying to cross the plate for the second run. Courtney Christie added another extra-base hit with a RBI double to centerfield and moved to third as the throw came home. Alyssa James added the Gaels' final run of the inning with a RBI single to left that pushed Christie across as Iona scored four runs on five hits to take the 5-1 lead.
The Pirates used a lead-off home run by Pease to spark a three-hit, three-run top of the fourth inning to pull within a run at 5-4. The Gaels again came back with a big blow as Harris picked her second home run, this one with Hay aboard, and the Maroon & Gold pushed its advantage to 7-4. Seton Hall added a late run in the top of the sixth, but couldn't edge closer as the game was called due to impending darkness and Iona took the sweep, 7-5.
O'Neill, Gettins, and James each finished the game 2-for-3. Deanne Algeo notched her second win in the Maroon & Gold as she went the distance with five runs, all earned, on seven hits, and three Ks.
Iona will play a single game against non-conference foe Stony Brook on Thursday, April 9th. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm. The Gaels return to MAAC action and the confines of Rice Oval on Saturday, April 11 with a double-header against Fairfield. First pitch of game one is slated for 12:00 pm.
