NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College softball team continued it's recent string of strong play with a doubleheader sweep of non-conference opponent the University of Maine Saturday afternoon at Rice Oval. In game one, a sacrifice fly by senior catcher
Melanie Gettins in the bottom of the seventh produced the game winning run in a 2-1 Gaels victory. In game two, the Gaels knocked out nine hits and four runs in a 4-2 win.
In the opener, the Black Bears got on the board first when third baseman Terren Hall drove in Kali Burnham with a double to center field.
In the second, the Gaels came back to tie the contest. Senior DP
Alyssa Maiese led off with a double down the right field line before freshman RF
Katie Jansson put runners on the corners with a single. Jansson would be thrown out trying to steal for the inning's first out before Gettins tied the contest on an RBI groundout to second.
After stranding runners on base in the fourth and fifth, the Gaels would put the winning run across in the seventh. Maiese would double to right to lead off the inning and was run for by senior
Erin Kyle. Jansson would move Kyle to third with a sacrifice bunt before Gettins drove a 1-1 pitch to left for the game winning run batted in.
Maiese got the win after entering the game in relief of junior
Sarah Jackson. Maiese went four innings, allowing two hits and three walks to go with three strikeouts. Ashley Kelly took the loss for Maine, allowing two runs in 6.2 innings of work.
In the finale of the day, Maine once again got an early lead with a run in the top of the second. Second baseman Brynne Davis led off with a triple and scored when first baseman Kirstin Allen reached on an Iona error.
The Gaels quickly tied the score in the bottom of the inning. With two out, Gettins singled to right and James followed with a ground rule double. With two in scoring position, junior 3B
Chelsea Sheehan roped a 3-2 offering up the middle to score the Gaels' first run. Maine starter Beht Spoehr would retire the next Iona batter before the Gaels could take the lead.
The Gaels took the lead in their next turn at the dish. Sophomore CF
Jodi Petersen reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a wild pitch. Maiese would drive her in with a single to center field to put the Gaels ahead 2-1.
Iona added another run in the fifth. Sophomore DP
Eileen McCann reached on a fielder's choice and was run for by senior 2B
Tessa Earley. Earley would steal second and move to third on a single by Petersen. With Maiese at the plate, Petersen stole second with Earley heading down the line when the throw got away from the Maine middle infield.
In the bottom of the sixth, Iona would close out their scoring for the day. Gettins singled to left center to lead off and was run for by senior
Tierney Markou. With one out, Sheehan singled to put runners on first and second. Kyle would pick up her first run batted in of the season with a single to left field.
Maine would score once again in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Maiese shut down the Black Bears offense before any further damage.
Maiese picked up her second win of the day after relieving junior
Deanne Algeo. Maiese allowed one run and two hits in four innings, with Algeo giving up a run and five hits in three innings. Spoehr took the loss for Maine, allowing three earned in five innings.
The Gaels, now 21-17 on the season, resume Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play Sunday when they travel to Rider for a doubleheader. Game one begins at 1:00 pm.
