NEW YORK, NY - The Iona College softball team split a non-conference double header at Columbia, winning game one 9-1 before falling in game two by a score of 5-4.

In game one, the Gaels fell behind 1-0 after Columbia scored in the top of the first. In the top of the second, Iona quickly responded. Sophomore 1B Allyssa James led off with a single. With one out, junior C Melanie Gettins walked to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore 3B Chelsea Sheehan moved each runner up a base. Freshman Beth Kann pinch hit for Iona and responded with a run scoring single, bringing in two for the Gaels. Sophomore Melanie Hay was inserted into the contest for Kann and advanced to third on a bunt single by junior 2B Tessa Earley. With freshman SS Marisa Newman at the plate, Hay came home for Iona when a wild pitch was thrown by Columbia.

In the third, James reached base with a one out double and junior LF Erin Kyle followed with an infield single. Gettins drove each home with a double to put Iona ahead 5-1. In the fifth, James led off another inning by getting with a single. Kyle followed with a single and with one out, Sheehan drove James home with a double. Earley's single through the right side brought two runners home and the Gaels led 8-1.

Iona capped its scoring in the sixth when freshman DH Eileen McCann hit her eighth home run of the season. Sophomore Sarah Jackson picked up the Iona win, tossing a complete game, allowing just two hits and one earned run in six innings of work, while striking out 10.

In the second game, the Gaels got quickly behind as Columbia scored three runs in the bottom of the first. The Gaels were able to surge back with three of their own in the third inning. Senior RF Courtney Christie led off the inning with a single and was pinch run for by freshman Cari Anderson. Freshman 3B amy Metcalfe's single put two runners on with no one out. A ground out moved each runner up before Newman drove in Anderson with a sacrifice fly. Freshman CF Jodi Petersen followed up hitting her third home run of the season as Iona tied the contest at three.

Columbia was able to put across what would become the game winning runs in the fifth inning. Iona put across one run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Christie. The Iona loss was handed to junior Alyssa Maiese, who allowed two runs in relief of the starter McCann.

The Gaels return to action Tuesday when they travel to Lafayette for a double header. Game one is scheduled for 3:00 pm.