TAMPA, FL -The Iona College softball team split its first two games at the USF Under Armour Invitational. In game one, the Gaels were held back offensively by strong Colgate pitching, and fell to the Raiders 2-1. In game two, a dominant pitching performance from senior Sarah Jackson propelled the Gaels to a 1-0 win over Big Green.
In the first game, Colgate took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. The Gaels answered back to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI by freshman Brianna Schauer. The score remained tied until Colgate's Jennifer Ortega blasted an inside the park home run in the top of the fifth to put the Raiders up 2-1.
Against Dartmouth, Iona got its lone run in the top of the fifth. Freshman
Angie Nieves singled with one out and junior
Cari Anderson was called on to bunt. After successfully bunting Nieves to second, third base was left unoccupied allowing Nieves to move up another base. Dartmouth attempted to get the freshman out at third, but the throw got away and allowed Nieves to score the only run of the game.
In the win, Jackson allowed just four hits in seven innings. Jackson allowed struck out a season high 14. With her fourth strikeout of the game, the 611th of her career, she established a new career record for strikeouts. The previous record of 610 was held by Becki Riccitelli.
The Gaels are back in action Saturday, beginning with a 9:00 am matchup with Providence.
