NEW ROCHELLE, NY - After 27 games, the Iona College softball team was able to play a game at their home field of Rice Oval. The Gaels did not disappoint the many fans in attendance as they defeated Rider in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference double header, taking game one 1-0 and game two 2-1.
In game one, sophomore Sarah Jackson battled Rider's Rachel Matreale in a pitchers' duel. Each starter went the full game for the respective squads as Metreale allowed just five hits to the Iona batters while Jackson allowed just two hits and struck out 13, a season high and her fifth double digit strikeout game of the season.
The Iona offense was able to shake Metreale in the home second. With two outs, junior C Melanie Gettins doubled to right center and was pinch run for by junior Tierney Markou. Sophomore 3B Chelsea Sheehan followed and singled to left field, driving in Markou from second.
In game two, the Gaels cracked the scoring column in the second inning. Sophomore 1B Allyssa James opened with a single and Markou was once again summoned to the base pads for the Gaels. A sacrifice by junior LF Erin Kyle moved Markou to second and with two outs, Sheehan delivered once again, singling Markou home with the first run of the contest. Though Sheehan was thrown out trying to advanced to second, Markou touched home mere seconds before Sheehan was tagged.
In the Rider fourth, the Broncs' first two batters reached via singles and junior P Alyssa Maiese was summoned to replace Iona starter Deanne Algeo. After recording two outs and surrendering a walk, Maiese walked Rider's Heather Muscara on a full count to tie the contest at one.
Losing the lead ignited the Iona offense as they countered with ten runs, nine with two outs, in the home half of the fourth. James led off with a single and Kyle reached via single. Gettins broke the tie with a run scoring single to right field, but was tagged out advancing to second. Sheehan followed with a walk. After a strike out put two outs on the board, junior 2B Tessa Earley singled to right, scoring Kyle. Freshman SS Marisa Newman followed with a single to load the bases. Freshman CF Jodi Petersen followed with a two run single, scoring Sheehan and Earley and putting the Gaels up 5-1. Freshman DH Eileen McCann was hit by a pitch to put a third Iona runner on base. James followed with a running scoring single as did Kyle and the Gaels were ahead 7-1. Gettins followed and delivered the inning's biggest hit. Gettins connected on a pitch and drove it to deep right center field, resulting a two run ground rule double, scoring McCann and James. Sheehan followed Gettins and delivered a two-run double to right field for her second and third RBIs of the game.
Maiese closed the door on the contest by retiring the Broncs in order in the fifth to complete the shortened game with the 11-1 Iona advantage. The Gaels, winners of six straight, travel to Central Connecticut Wednesday for a contest beginning at 4:00 pm.
