DELAND, FL - The Iona College softball team began its 2012 season with a split on its first day of action at the Stetson Leadoff Classic.  Iona shutout Samford 1-0 before falling to the host Hatters 8-2 in the nightcap.

In game one, the Gaels got all the offense they would need in the first inning.  With two out, junior RF Eileen McCann took the first pitch she saw this season over the center field fence to provide Iona with its lone run of the afternoon.

In the circle, senior RHP Sarah Jackson dominted the Samford lineup, allowing just four hits and three walks in seven innings.  Misha Aldridge took the loss for Stetson, allowing four hits and the one run in her seven innings.

In the second game, Stetson would score eight runs over two innings due to sloppy defensive play by the Gaels.  Two Iona errors in the second would allow three Stetson runs to score.  Five more runs would score in the third inning for the Hatters, with the big blow coming on a home run by Chelsea Trotto after the previous batter reached on an infield error by the Gaels.

Iona's only runs of the game came in the first inning.  Junior CF Jodi Petersen hit a fly ball to left field that was dropped and allowed McCann and senior RHP Alyssa Maiese to score on the play.

Maiese took the loss for Iona, allowing eight runs, though just one earned, in 2.2 innings of work.  Freshman Carly Argyle made her Iona debut in relief, allowing just four hits and one walk in 4.1 innings.

Iona is back at it tomorrow with two more games at Stetson, first taking on South Dakota at 10:00 am before closing out the weekend against Samford at 12:00 pm.