HONOLULU, HI - The Iona College softball team opened up its spring break trip to the Aloha State with a pair of contests at the Spring Fling Invitational hosted by Hawaii. The Gaels' offense was unable to get together during the two games, with Iona falling to Brigham Young 8-0 in game one and No. 9 California 10-1 in game two.
The Cougars picked up runs in the first, third and fourth, taking a 3-0 lead on the Gaels. BYU broke the game open with two runs in the fifth as 3B Krista Hicks and 2B Kristin Delahoussaye picked up RBI singles.
Iona came nearest to scoring in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases on a walk to freshman RF
Katie Jansson, single by sophomore C
Courtney Duncan and walk to sophomore CF
Jodi Petersen. BYU pitcher Paige Affleck struck out the last out of inning and keep the Gaels from scoring.
BYU scored three in the seventh on a two run single by C Jessica Fitu and an RBI groundout by DH Caschjen Atagi.
Affleck went the distance for the shutout, allowing four hits and collecting five strikeouts to move her record to 6-9.
Senior
Alyssa Maiese took the loss for the Gaels, moving to 1-5 on the year. Maiese allowed five runs and six hits in five innings. Junior
Deanne Algeo allowed three runs, one earned, in two innings of relief.
In game two, the Gaels found themselves in an early 5-0 hole in a contest that only went five innings. In the second inning, the Bears put across two unearned against Iona starter
Sarah Jackson. CF Frani Echavarria singled, and was able to move to third on an error. A sac bunt by 2B Victoria Jones drove in Echavarria and with two out, LF Jamia Reid singled to drive in Jones. In the third, 1B Jordan Wallace drove in two with a double to left center and Jones followed with an RBI single.
In the fourth, Cal scored four runs to seal the contest. Reid scored after 3B Jace Williams reached on an Iona error. DH Jolene Henderson grounded out to second to drive in a run, Echavarria singled home Williams and Wallace hit a sacrifice fly.
Down 9-0, Iona cracked the scoreboard for the first time all day on a home run by Maiese, her fourth of the season.
Jackson lost for the first time this season, moving her record to 4-1. She allowed five earned runs in four innings, striking out three batters. Arianna Erceg went the distance for Cal, moving her record to 2-0.
Iona is back in action when they face host Hawaii, this evening in Honolulu. Game time is 1:00 am EST.
