NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College softball team picked up a doubleheader sweep of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent Saint Peter's College Saturday afternoon at Rice Oval. The Gaels got a walk-off 2-1 win in game one before scoring in five of six innings to win game two 8-0.
In game one, Iona got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Alyssa Maiese led off with a single up the middle, before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. A passed ball moved Maiese to third and she was able to score when the throw to the plate on a single by senior Allyssa James was mishandled by the Saint Peter's catcher. Saint Peter's would tie the game in the top of the third when Chelsea Crews drove in Francesca D'Amato with an RBI ground out to second base.
The teams traded zeros until the bottom of the seventh when Iona pushed the winning run across the plate. With one out, senior Chelsea Sheehan reached on an error. With two outs and Sheehan now on second, junior Cari Anderson reached on another Saint Peter's error, allowing Sheehan to score on the play with the winning run.
Senior Sarah Jackson got the win for Iona, allowing five hits and one unearned run in seven innings, while striking out eight. Shelby Beaver took the loss for Saint Peter's, allowing four hits and two unearned run in 6.2 innings.
In game two, Iona got on the board in the first inning when junior Eileen McCann hit a two-out solo home run to left centerfield, putting Iona ahead 1-0. In the second, Iona scored another run when junior Beth Kann reached on an error by Saint Peter's, scoring James who reached with a one out single. Iona was unable to score again in the inning, leaving the bases loaded.
In the third, Iona pushed two more runs across. McCann led off with a double before Maiese walked. Senior Deanne Algeo layed down a sacrifice bunt to put two in scoring position. James would drive the pair in with a single up a middle, putting Iona ahead 4-0.
The Gaels increased their lead to 6-0 with two runs in the fifth inning. With one out, Maiese and Algeo recorded back-to-back singles. James continued her strong day with an RBi single to right, scoring Maiese and advancing Algeo to second. Sheehan followed with a single to put runners on the corners before Kann delivered an RBI single up the middle.
Iona got its final two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior Jodi Petersen singled up the middle to lead off the inning before freshman Allison Hand followed with a single of her own. McCann would single to load the bases, and after a Saint Peter's pitching change, Maiese delivered a two-run double to give Iona an 8-0 lead.
Maiese got the game two win, allowing just two hits in six innings while striking out eight. Beaver started the second game for Saint Peter's and took the loss, allowing one earned run and five hits in two innings of work.
Iona is back in action Sunday, when they host Siena for another MAAC doubleheader, beginning at 1:00 pm.
