WILMINGTON, NC - The Iona College softball team dropped to 1-4 on the early season with a 3-2 loss in eight innings to UNC Wilmington Sunday morning in its final contest of the UNC Wilmington Beach Blast.

Iona got out in front in the second inning when senior Beth Kann lifted her second home run of the season over the left field wall.  Wilmington was able to take the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Lauryn Buckworth drove in Erin Brown with a single and Jordin Phillips scored on an infield single by CJ Moose.

The Gaels were able to send the game into extra innings when they scored the tying run in the seventh.  Sophomore Allison Hand led off the inning with a single through the left side and  senior Eileen McCann followed by reaching on a Seahawks error.  After the next two batters were retired, junior Katie Jansson tied the same with an RBI single to short.

In the eighth inning, UNC Wilmington was able to plate the deciding run in the bottom of the frame.  With Jessica Rappe placed on second base, Talyor Matkins sacrificed her teammate to third with a bunt.  Two batters later, Brown drove a fly ball to center, plating Rappe with a sacrifice fly.

Carly Argyle took the loss for Iona, allowing three runs, one earned, and seven hits in 7.2 innings.  Argyle also walked three and struck out six.  Jordyn Schmidt got the win for Wilmington in relief, allowing one hit in two innings pitched.

Iona is back in action in two weeks when they return to North Carolina for the Chapel Hill Classic.