STONY BROOK, NY - The Iona College Softball team stepped on the road in non-conference play as they faced Stony Brook in a single game on Thursday afternoon. A close game throughout, the Gaels and Seawolves were tied in the bottom of the seventh when a strange sequence gave the win to Stony Brook,3-2.
The teams were locked in a pitcher's duel as neither the Gaels (8-15) nor the Seawolves (23-7) could push a run across through the first three innings. Kassondra Silva got the start for Iona and allowed just two hits and walk in three innings of work. She was matched by Stony Brook's Colleen Matthes who allowed two hits, a walk and struck out four through three innings. The Gaels cracked the scoreboard first in the vistor's fourth. Allyssa James picked up a two-out infield single, Jaclyn Quinn walked four pitches and Silva drew a walk to put load the bases with two outs. After a pitching change by the Seawolves, pinch-hitter Courtney Christie walked on six pitches and plated James to make it 1-0 Gaels.
The lead held until the bottom of the fifth as Stony Brook jumped on top. Kelsi Fanelli plated a pair with a RBI double to right-center and it was 2-1 Seawovles. The lead didn't last as the top of sixth came, James picked up second run scored on the afternoon. She also picked up the RBI with a solo homerun to right-center on an 0-2 pitch and the game was all squared at 2-2.
The game stayed tied for the next inning, but in the bottom of the seventh, the Seawolves grabbed the win on a crazy sequence. With a runner on first, Fanelli grounded to short and the throw from Rachelle Harris pulled James off the bag at first. James tried to get the runner advancing to third and her throw was just wide allowing the winning run to score and give Stony Brook the 3-2 win.
Sarah Jackson was on the hill in relief in the seventh and took the loss with one inning of work, a hit and a run, unearned. Alyssa Struzenberg got the win for Stony Brook pitching 3.1 innings in relief with two hits, one run, earned, two walks and six strikeouts.
The Gaels return to Rice Oval and MAAC Conference play on Saturday, April 11 with a double-header against Fairfield. First pitch is slated for 12pm.
