BUFFALO, NY - As part of their weekend road trip to upstate New York, the Iona College softball team faced Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent Canisius Sunday afternoon at Demske Sports Complex. The Gaels were unable to pick up a victory on the day, falling in game one 1-0, before losing game two 6-2.
In game one, sophomore
Sarah Jackson was involved in a pitchers' dual with Canisius' Caroline Main. Each put up scoreless innings for the first five innings before the Golden Griffs picked up the lone run in the home sixth. A single by Michelle Friday was followed by a run scoring triple by Paige Freiberger.
Jackson took the tough luck loss for the Gaels, falling to 14-6 on the season. Jackson allowed just one run, five hits and struck out four batters. Offensively the Gaels were held to two hits in the game, a fourth inning triple by freshman
Jodi Petersen and a seventh inning single by sophomore
Allyssa James.
In game two, the Golden Griffs took the lead in the second, scoring two runs off Iona starter
Eileen McCann. Iona responded in the fourth with two runs to cut the Canisius lead to one. Petersen led off with a double. McCann followed with a single to score Petersen as the Gaels cracked the scoreboard for the first time all day. James singled and was pinch run for by freshman
Amy Metcalfe. A double steal attempt was foiled as McCann was thrown out trying to move to third as Metcalfe moved to second on the play. Junior LF
Erin Kyle walked to put runners on second and third. Junior C
Melanie Gettins reached base on fielder's choice as an error by Canisius allowed Gettins to reach and Metcalfe to score. The Gaels loaded the bases once again but two force outs at home stopped the Iona rally.
Canisius quickly came back in the fourth with two runs before securing more insurance with a run in the sixth en route to the 6-2 final. McCann took the loss for Iona, allowing three runs in 1.2 innings of work.
The Gaels are back in action Tuesday when they travel to Hofstra. First pitch of the non-conference contest begins at 4:00 pm.
