NORFOLK, VA - The Iona College softball team picked up two wins on the second day of the Spartan Invitational. In the first matchup of the day, the Gaels defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 12-7, and defeated host Norfolk State 12-0 in the final contest of the weekend. The Gaels return home with a 3-1 record at the Spartan Invitational.

Against the Knights, the Gaels got on the board quickly in the first inning. Junior 2B Tessa Earley led off the game with a walk, and subsequently stole second. With Earley now on third, and two outs, freshman DH Eileen McCann launched a home run to left center to put the Gaels ahead 2-0.

In the second inning, the Gaels put another run across when junior pinch runner Tierney Markou was driven home by a single off the bat of sophomore RF Melanie Hay.

The Gaels continue the offensive surge in the third inning. Freshman SS Marisa Newman led off the inning with a single. Fellow rookie Jodi Petersen put the Gaels ahead by five with a two run homer to left center. Junior C Melanie Gettins put the Gaels up 6-0 with a round tripper of her own. Iona continued to threaten, putting two more runners on, before the Knights produced the third out of the inning before anymore damage was done by the Maroon & Gold.

In the bottom of the third, Fairleigh Dickinson cracked the scoring column with three runs produced off a hit and three Iona errors.

In the fourth inning, Earley opened the frame with a walk. With out out, Petersen doubled, putting two runners in scoring position for the heart of the Iona lineup. Sophomore 1B Allyssa James came up with two outs and delivered a double scoring both Earley and Petersen. Gettins followed with a double of her own to score James and put the Gaels ahead 9-3.

Iona scored yet again in the fifth frame. With two outs, Newman doubled and Petersen followed with her second home run of the game as the Gaels moved the lead to 11-3.

The Knights kept the game close when they scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two out, C Alexandra Schubert drove home all three runs with a bases clearing double. The Knights put another run across the following inning when Elizabeth Woidt scored on an fielding error after reaching with a double.

Earley scored her third run of the game after opening the seventh inning with a walk. After moving to third, Earley put the 12th Iona run across when she scored via passed ball.

Junior Alyssa Maiese earned her first Iona victory, tossing 4.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs.

In the second contest of the day, Iona defeated host Norfolk State 12-0 in five innings. Sophomore P Sarah Jackson got plenty of run support, but didn't need much as the right hander hurled five innings of shutout, no hit ball for the Gaels. Jackson struck out nine and faced just 17 opposing batters.

The Gaels got on the board against the Spartans with a thunderous eight-run opening inning. After singles by Earley and Newman, Petersen continued her fantastic afternoon with a double to right center, driving in Earley. The next Iona batter, McCann, walked, putting three runners on for James. James responsed to the run producing situation with a two run single scoring Newman and Petersen. Freshman 3B Amy Metcalfe walked to load the bases and with one out junior LF Erin Kyle drove in two runs with a single. Hay reached on an error and with the lineup turned over, Earley did the same; scoring Kyle and Hay. Another Spartans error allowed Newman to reach and score Earley on the same play. When the third out was recorded, the Gaels had put eight runs across and were well on their way to victory.

In the Iona third, Earley reached with a one out bunt single but was erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of Newman. With Newman now occupying first, Petersen reached when the third strike got away from the Norfolk catcher. With two on and two out, McCann belted her second home run of the day, and third of the weekend, to center field, putting Iona ahead 11-0. Iona continued the power surge in the fourth when freshman Beth Kann hit a pinch hit home run of her own to push the Gaels lead to the 12-0 final.

On the day, the Gaels recorded 22 hits, 12 of which registered for extra bases. The Gaels look to continue their strong play when they return to the field to take on UC Davis in Davis, CA at 2:00 pm.