RIVERDALE, NY - Junior 2B Tessa Earley opened the Iona College softball team's game one contest against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Manhattan with a home run. The theme would continue as the Gaels hit eight home runs on the day against the Lady Jaspers, and swept the conference double header, winning game one 8-1 and game two 7-4.

The Gaels got on the board in the first inning of game one with Earley's homer, her first of the season. Neither team was able to put another run across until the road fourth inning when freshman CF Jodi Petersen opened the frame with a home run of her own. Petersen repeated the feat in the sixth when she launched her second round tripper of the day. The following hitter, freshman DH Eileen McCann connected on a very significant home run. With her ninth home run of the season, McCann established a new Iona record for home runs by a freshman, breaking the previous mark of eight set by Laura Stott in 2005.

Sophomore 1B Allyssa James followed the two long balls with a single. Junior LF Erin Kyle had a single of her own as junior pinch runner Tierney Markou moved to third. Kyle stole second and freshman pinch hitter Beth Kann was hit with a pitch. With the bases loaded, sophomore RF Melanie Hay followed with a walk to drive in Markou with the third Iona run of the inning. After Kyle was caught stealing, walks to Earley and freshman SS Marisa Newman pushed across another Iona run as the Gaels led 6-0.

McCann opened the seventh with her second home run of the game, and the team's fifth of the game. James followed with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. James was driven in on an RBI single by the next batter, junior C Melanie Gettins. Manhattan would crack the scoreboard in the seventh but the Gaels' lead was secured as they took game one 8-1. Sophomore Sarah Jackson took the win for Iona, pitching a complete game, allowing just six hits and one earned run while striking out ten.

In game two, Iona was in an early deficit as Manhattan struck for three runs in the first off Iona starter Deanne Algeo. Iona had just two hits in the first four innings but were able to break the brief slump in the fifth inning with three runs to try the game at three runs apiece. Hay reached with a one out bunt single and stole second. Newman walked to put two runners on for Petersen, who connected with yet another home run.

Manhattan answered with another run in the fifth to take a one run lead. With the Gaels down one and the innings dwindling, James connected on a sixth inning home run, her second of the season as Iona tied the game at four.

The game reached extra frames as both teams went scoreless in the seventh inning. In the eighth, McCann led off with a home run as the Gaels aimed to put the second game out of reach. James followed with a double and with one out, Gettins also smacked a double. With two runners in scoring position, sophomore 3B Chelsea Sheehan hit the third Iona double to put two more runs across to put the Gaels at the 7-4 final.

In relief, junior Alyssa Maiese took the win after coming in and allowing just one unearned run in five innings of work, while striking out four. Jackson came on to pitch the eighth and struck out all three batters to earn her first save of the season.

The Gaels are back in action as they open their home slate with a 1:00 pm double header against Rider Sunday at Rice Oval.