NIAGARA UNIV, NY - The Iona College softball team split its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against Niagara on Saturday afternoon. Niagara topped the Gaels 1-0 in the opening game, before Iona took game two by a 3-0 margin.

Starting pitchers Sarah Jackson, for Iona, and Julie DiMatteo, for Niagara, traded zeros until the bottom of the sixth inning when Niagara's Ambur Farmer led off the inning with a home run to left center.  That would be all DiMatteo would need as she would retire the Gaels in order in the top of the seventh inning.

Jackson allowed just one run and four hits in six innings while DiMatteo allowed four hits and struck out five.

In the second game, Iona got all of its runs in the first three innings.  In the first inning, junior Jodi Petersen led off the game with a single to right field.  A groundout moved Petersen to second before junior Eileen McCann drove her in with a double up the middle.

The Gaels would plate another run in the second inning when freshman Angie Nieves plated senior Chelsea Sheehan with a double to center after Sheehan picked up a double of her own.  In the third, Iona got its final run when freshman Allison Hand homered to left, the first of her collegiate career.

Senior Alyssa Maiese was magnificent for the Gaels, retiring the first 11 Niagara batters she faced.  She allowed just three baserunners on two hits and a walk while striking out 15 in seven innings.  Kim Bryson took the loss for Niagara.

Iona is back in action Sunday, when they visit Canisius for another MAAC doubleheader, beginning at 12:00 pm.