EASTON, PA - The Iona College softball team split an afternoon non-conference double header with Lafayette Thursday afternoon. In game one, a five inning no-hitter by sophomore Sarah Jackson and a 12 run inning propelled the Gaels to a 15-0 win, while in game two the Leopards game back to win game two by the score of 4-2.

In game one, the Gaels opened up the scoring in the third with a remarkable 12 runs. A single by junior C Melanie Gettins led off the innings. Walks to sophomore 3B Chelsea Sheehan and sophomore RF Melanie Hay followed. An error allowed junior 2B Tessa Earley to reach base and pinch runner Tierney Markou to score. Freshman SS Marisa Newman drove in Sheehan and Hay with a single and the Gaels led 3-0. A wild pitch moved up Earley and Newman and a running scoring single by freshman CF Jodi Petersen drove in another run for Iona. The next Gael to bat, senior DH Courtney Christie, walked to load the bases. After a fielder's choice forced Newman out at home, junior LF Erin Kyle reached on an error which brought home Petersen. The next batter, Gettins, walked to force in another Iona run. In her second at-bat of the inning, Sheehan doubled to center to drive in two runs. Hay reached once again and a walk to Earley drove in another Iona run. Newman was hit by a pitch to force in the 10th Iona run of the inning. Christie walked for the second time in the inning as Earley scored the 11th run for the Gaels. A walk to sophomore 1B Allyssa James advanced Newman with the 12th Iona run. In the inning the Gaels scored the 12 runs on just four hits and were aided by seven walks and two errors in the inning.

The Gaels put insurance runs across in the fifth inning. Singles by Newman and Petersen led off the inning before a walk to Christie loaded the bases. With one out, freshman Beth Kann pinch hit for the Gaels and delivered with a two run single. Gettins followed with her third hit of the game, driving Christie with the 15th Iona run.

Christie reached base three time in the contest, while Newman, Sheehan, Kann and Gettins all had two RBI for the Maroon & Gold. In the circle, Jackson allowed no hits and walked just one while striking out 10. It is her second complete game no hitter of the season, and the Gaels' third overall of the year.

In game two, the Gaels got on the board in the first. Earley singled to open the game and promptly stole second and third. With one out, Petersen drove Earley in with an RBI single. Lafayette answered with a run off Jackson, making her second start of the day, in the first.

In the third inning, the Gaels put another run across as Petersen drove in Markou with an RBI triple. In the fifth inning, Lafayette put the game away with a three run inning.

Jackson took the loss for Iona, allowing eight hits and four runs in 4.2 innings of work. The Gaels return to the field Wednesday, when they travel to Army. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm.