NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College softball finished its regular season schedule by hosting Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent Saint Peter's at Rice Oval Saturday afternoon. A perfect game by sophomore
Sarah Jackson and an eight run first inning propelled Iona to an 11-0 victory in game one. The Gaels completed the scoreless streak in the second game as a combined no-hitter by sophomore
Deanne Algeo and junior
Alyssa Maiese plus a two run rally in the sixth led to a 2-0 win for the Gaels.
In game one, the Gaels came out firing, scoring six runs before an out was recorded. Junior 2B
Tessa Earley and freshman SS
Marisa Newman started the inning with singles before freshman CF
Jodi Petersen was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, freshman RF
Eileen McCann drove in Earley and PR
Tierney Markou with a single to left and the Gaels were up 2-0. Sophomore 1B
Allyssa James followed with a run scoring single of her own, pushing two more runs across for Iona. Junior LF
Erin Kyle doubled home Jackson to push the Gaels ahead 5-0. Junior DP Maiese singled to continue the inning while junior C
Melanie Gettins reached on an error as another run scored for the Gaels. Sophomore 3B
Chelsea Sheehan was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Earley grounded out to first, driving in Maiese with another Iona run. With two out, Petersen singled home Gettins with a single as Iona scored the eighth and final run of the inning.
After James opened the second inning with a single, Kyle followed with a home run over left center and the Gaels led 10-0 after two frames. The final Iona run came across in the fourth when Sheehan drove home Gettins with a single.
In the shortened five inning contest, Jackson registered 11 strikeouts against 15 batters. The 11 strikeouts were her second most of the season and her seventh double digit output of the season. Jackson picked up her 15th win of the season, the third most in a single season by an Iona pitcher. Nicole Schnecker took the loss for Saint Peter's, falling to 2-15 on the year.
In game two, the Gaels and Peahens traded scoreless frames for the first five innings. McCann pinch hit and singled to the left side. A wild pitch moved McCann to second and a double by James moved McCann home. Kyle followed with a single scoring PR Markou.
Algeo allowed just one walk in her 3.1 innings of work. After the walk was followed by an error, Maiese was summoned from the bullpen to stop any potential damage. Maiese retired all 11 batters she faced, striking out seven in 3.2 innings.
With a final conference record of 11-3, the Gaels clinched a share of the regular season championship with Canisius. Based on head to head records, Canisius clinched first in the MAAC Championships. The Gaels will be the number two seed in the tournament, held next weekend at Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, NY.
