POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The fourth-seeded Iona College softball team earned the league's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division I Softball Championship with two consecutive wins over top-seeded Fairfield University in the title round of the 2011 MAAC Softball Championship at Softball Park at Gartland Field on the campus of Marist College.
In game six, Iona made its mark on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning as sophomore LF
Eileen McCann knocked a three-run home run to left center, followed by a solo home run by senior 3B
Alyssa Maiese to deep center to give the Gaels the 4-0 win and force the championship to be decided in game seven. Junior
Sarah Jackson earned the win in game six. In seven innings of work, she gave up three hits, walked two and struck out 12 batters.
In game seven, Fairfield got one run in the bottom of the third inning when sophomore left fielder Tiffany Lawson stole third and then reached home after a throwing error to give the Stags a 1-0 lead. Then in the sixth inning, freshman second baseman Kristen Filicia tripled down the right field and then scored on a single by MAAC Rookie of the Year Lauren Liseth.
With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Iona rallied as pinch runner
Tierney Markou scored on a fielder's choice and junior designated player
Deanne Algeo hit a two-RBI single through the right side. Senior second baseman
Tessa Earley then scored when Algeo was caught stealing, giving the Gaels the 4-2 win.
Jackson pitched complete games in both contests, allowing two runs, one earned in 14 innings of work. Jackson struck out 20 over the two games to earn her second consecutive Most Outstanding Player award.
The 2011 NCAA Selection Show will air live on Sunday, May 15 at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.
